The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has ordered 12,000 more prepaid meters at a cost of about US$1.2 million, which will soon be available to the public as it has become the metering system of choice for consumers.
GPL Chief Executive Officer Bharrat Dindyal said on Monday that the gadget is “practically selling itself”, though the demand is placing a significant financial burden on the company.
“I think we no longer need to sell prepaid meters, almost all the consumers who are using these meters have good things to say to the extent that people are coming in large numbers asking to be converted from post-paid to prepaid but, the problem for us is keeping up with that demand,” he said.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, prepaid meters are supplied free of cost; however, one meter costs the company about US$130 (both cost of meter and installation).
“The prepaid metering system is a new technology that allows customers to carefully manage their electricity. It consists of a display unit that is setup in the house and is interconnected to a central meter established on an electric pole,” GINA said.
The technology also has a number of other features such as a built-in alarm, an electricity duration indicator and other services that would update the customer on a timely basis
Consumers interested in buying power can approach the vendor/seller and disclose a number that is assigned to the consumer’s house meter. The consumer is then given a code that is linked to the meter number.
