The Guyana Power & Light Inc (GPL) announced yesterday that it recently acquired two Spin Lab Bird Dog Analyzers (Mobile Test Bench) that allow laboratory-standard tests of meters to be done in the field.
Director of GPL’s loss reduction programme Samaroo Ramtahal at yesterday’s briefing/demonstrative session at the utility’s Middle Street office said such equipment will employ very accurate field tests to determine whether a meter is under or over-recording. Moreover, such technology will have the capacity to instantly print a report premised on the findings of the test which will be discussed with the consumer.
Such information will moreover be downloaded into GPL’s data base. Consumers have complained frequently in the past about over-recording and the utility on the other hand has voiced concerns about meters being tampered with to give lower readings.
GPL says that these instruments will facilitate the testing of all types of meters including the single-type phase, three-phase, electronic and electro- mechanical meters.
It was contended that this innovation will assist significantly in the prevention of electricity theft which has constituted a formidable impediment to the operations of GPL.
Also, customers whose meters are found to be over-recording, will see their accounts receiving the appropriate credits. Thus, Ramtahal posited, the goal behind technology acquisition was improved customer service.
However, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, retired Justice Prem Persaud who attended yesterday’s media briefing criticised the proceedings positing that the briefing/demonstrative session should have been open to the general public and the consumers groups in the thrust to promote greater involvement and awareness.
CEO of GPL Bharrat Dindyal who also briefed the media, addressed the issue of fires that are allegedly due to the quality of GPL’s supply. Dindyal stated that invariably such fires are caused by faults associated with the wiring of the home which is the responsibility of the proprietor of that home.
This diagnosis was followed by the recommendation by commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission, John Caesar that GPL could assist in the certification of these homes.
