The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) says it has recently had to issue an excessive volume of estimated bills due to the inability of its meter readers to gain access to meters for readings.
As a result, GPL is warning customers that failure to have their meters read for two consecutive months would result in the disconnection of service.
According to a GPL press release, the company’s meter readers have recently been experiencing difficulty gaining access to perform their functions due to locked gates, refusal of entry, attacks by ferocious dogs, and sometimes incorrectly placed meters, resulting in an estimation of charges.
It said the problems occur mainly in regions Three and Four, with those areas receiving the highest number of estimated bills.
Further, GPL said its contractual arrangement with customers specifically requires the company to have unimpeded access to meters for the purpose of reading, since the meters remain instruments of the company.
In addition, the Electricity Sector Reform Act establishes the company’s right of access for the purpose of meter reading and also permits the company to disconnect services if meters are not read.
Meter readers perform duties daily between the hours of 6am and 5pm and customers are asked to make special provisions to have their meters read in cases where they will not be at home or the meters are not visible to meter readers.
Additionally, the company said customers are to ensure meter readers at all times present a valid GPL employee identification card, the front side of which bears a name, designation and visible photograph of the person wearing same and the reverse indicating the company’s deputy Human Resources Manager’s signature and the date of employment. For further information, GPL encourages customers to call the billing services at telephone number 226-2606 or visit the website www.gplinc.com.
