The Guyana Power & Light lamented yesterday that illegal connections are being replaced within a day despite the company’s constant raids in a number of communities, as it expressed its deepest sympathy to the family of the boy who was electrocuted when he came into contact with an illegal connection on Sunday.
The power company in a press release yesterday named certain communities as major culprits stating that despite “constant raids in Sophia, particularly Cum-mings Park and Section D, North and South Ruimveldt, Friendship, East Bank Demerara, Plum Park, Angoy’s Avenue, Soesdyke and Annandale North, illegal connections are replaced within one day.”
GPL said too that on July 31 its personnel accompanied by the police had visited Annandale North and removed illegal connections and two persons who were subsequently arrested are now before the court.
GPL again appealed to the public to desist from establishing illegal connections and networks while noting that the amendments to the Electricity Sector Reform Act 1999 which are currently before Parliament are wide ranging and when enacted will impose stiffer penalties for stealing of electricity, including prosecution of perpetrators of meter tampering, bypass and illegal connections. GPL also drew attention to the fact that it has been warning for years that illegal networks pose an ever present danger to everyone in the communities in which the practice occurs, particularly to children.
However, despite GPL’s efforts at curbing electricity theft the recent unfortunate incident “highlights the enormous challenge the company faces from determined electricity thieves,” the release stated.
