Dear Editor,
A few days ago, a friend asked me to help a lady figure out why her electricity bill is way above average. Upon inspection, I discovered the building’s earth wire was disconnected, and I recommended that she earth it off first before we move on which she requested I do. When I opened the main and sub-main boxes, I discovered all the earth wire disconnected, and upon enquiring, she couldn’t explain how that happened. Proper earthing of a building prevents shocks, electrical fires and wastage, thus the electricity bill would not be abnormal.
Now, for that building to get a meter and electricity from GPL, the wiring has to be inspected by GPL’s inspectors, and if not to standard, the electrical contractor has to rectify the problem and the building re-inspected. But miraculously, this building has a meter and electricity. Sadly, in this country, a contractor gets most of the money to build someone’s house but no one to inspect it for faults, the electrical wiring has to be inspected, and still the building is riddled with construction errors.
The system is manipulated in such a way that buildings could be wired and a meter issued without any proper inspection. Then there’s the other way, where you pay someone and the paper is processed conveniently. But at the end of it all, many buildings contained flawed work, some crumble or caught fire and there’s no way to recover the expense from the errant contractor.
Editor, several people are utilizing every opportunity to eke out a living, and many use social media to promote their business or skills, but recently, I’ve noticed many venturing into the solar business. While I don’t have time to delve down into details, many friends would send proposals to me asking if it’s feasible. I would check it out and give my opinion, but during the past week, one came to me where the images looked very attractive, but the prices looked very suspicious.
So I contacted the seller only to hear that two solar panels, two gel batteries, and inverter/charger were being sold for five hundred thousand dollars. I pointed out that what they were offering cannot provide proper service as they are saying, and I also pointed out the cost was exorbitant and for that money, I can get far better. I never got a reply, but many people have no idea about solar, are interested and without a doubt, are easily duped. Sadly, many organizations exist to protect people from various scams but are dysfunctional, but their salaries aren’t.
Sincerely,
Sahadeo Bates
