PUC fines power company over standards

By an Order dated April 25th, 2018, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has fined the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) 5% of the total value of the dividend payable to the company’s shareholders for the year 2017.

The PUC said that in its previous Order it had cautioned that it was not appropriate to make any award of a monetary penalty on the company. It said that it had expected GPL to make a concerted effort to fulfil its mandate in providing service at a reasonable price to the consumer.

“Unfortunately, our expectations of an improved service did not materialize. The Commission, in fulfilment of its obligations and having considered the extent to which the company has failed to meet the (Operating Standards and Performance Targets), together with the impact on the Licensees’ consumers, hereby fines the company in the amount of 5% of the total value of the dividend payable to the company’s shareholders in the just concluded calendar year”, the Order said.

The Commission said that it will continue to monitor the operation of GPL and it will demand a reporting on its standards as it seems fit.