Dear Editor,
The Guyana Power and Light Inc has apparently embarked on a mission to further exploit poor Guyanese who are already at the mercy of this monopoly.
Since the installation of new meters in our neighbourhood, many persons have been complaining about their bills skyrocketing and GPL has chosen to ignore their concerns. My father, a senior citizen, is one of the affected.
He operates a small ‘sweetie and drinks’ shop in his yard. Like clockwork it closes by 8pm every night and basically caters to children and villagers. This is his livelihood and he has no employees. The shop was built less than a decade ago and outfitted with a separate meter. For years he has been billed approximately $15,000 per month (shop alone). Although this amount is quite high, it was put down to beverage refrigeration.
Late last year GPL installed new meters in the neighbourhood. Since this event, his bills have been astronomical and visits to the company are met with apathy; junior employees who cannot explain the discrepancies, do not care and do not flag complaints for follow up. It’s either pay up or do without electricity. This company is operating as if it’s on a mission to increase Guyana’s poverty and homelessness rates.
From approximately $15,000 per month for the shop he is now forced to pay $37,000 (first bill with new meter) and $44,000 (January bill). Nothing has changed in the shop; opening hours have not been extended and no new equipment was added. Also, he was never accused of stealing electricity, so why the extreme increase GPL?
One day I observed the meter; in the span of a few minutes it blanked out several times then the reading appeared. When I informed the customer representative (GPL Main Street branch) of this I couldn’t even get an answer as to whether this is normal or not. In addition, the amount that is normally billed for the house has doubled although nothing new has been added, again no explanation given. And no offer made by GPL to check the meters; it’s either pay up or do without (this should be their new slogan).
Horrifically, when I visited GPL’s Main Street Office (on behalf of my father) to get an explanation and possible reduction, I was instead blasted with an increase! I was told a further $11,000 has to be added to the $44,000 bill for January (due 6th February)! When I asked for an explanation the representative couldn’t even say anything logical except some mumblings about ‘things left over since September’. The new meter wasn’t even in then and readings were taken from the old meter; the bill was paid in full and proof provided yet it wasn’t even looked at.
Every month, my father has been paying his GPL bills and the billing amounts were always consistent until the advent of the new meters. GPL needs to check these meters and provide logical explanations for such drastic increases. It also needs to investigate this case, we don’t have money!
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
Customer No. 0644413
Reference No. 06444130583391
