The new power regulations and their likely impact on customers, especially those in low-income areas are engaging the attention of the Guyana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA).

The new regulations, passed under the Electricity Sector Reform Act, require customers to follow certain guidelines with respect to installation of their meters, fuse boxes and other electrical installations.

GECA is concerned that these new regulations, although geared to reduce un-metered power and protect equipment will in the end not benefit the consumer.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) yesterday proved futile.

At a press briefing yesterday at the Hotel Tower members of the executive of the GECA shared several concerns with the media while publicizing their activities.

According to a committee member of the association, Ashton Sargeant, these new regulations would place an additional financial burden on consumers, especially those in the low-income bracket who are now attempting to acquire homes.

The new design specifications will see an additional cost to the consumer for installation. Sargeant was of the view that smaller cable sizes could achieve the same objective as the larger ones dictated by the regulations. He said that GECA was prepared to engage the GPL in dialogue to overcome the problem.

Many of the requirements to be met by GPL in relation to making the new system work, Sargeant stated, had not yet been implemented and further GPL was unable to meet the meter and other components' requirements.

The association said it had already written to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on the matter and that body had in turn approached the power company, which has asked for time to prepare its case.

The GECA, its members said, had already prepared its case and was awaiting word from the utility body.

According to the regulations, GPL will offer consumers a 120V-240V, 50/60Hz three-wire connection, to be provided by way of a conductor feeding from the nearest GPL pole and attached to a point of the house nearest to the pole. The connection from this point will be taken by GPL into a meter box it provides, which is to be located at the front of the consumer's property to allow for visibility from the roadway. There must be a minimum of 1.2 metres from the bottom of the meter box and a maximum of 1.8 metres from the top to ground level.

The meter, according to the regulations will be installed by GPL in the box which will be made of fibreglass or a similar substance and will have a window made of transparent fibreglass or other means to allow for easy reading by both GPL and the consumer. This box will be sealed with a security seal and will remain the property of the power company.

Consumers, the regulations further stipulate, would be required to install cables from the meter box to their own Isolator Switch and Fuse box.

The power company will supply the meter and a maximum of 18 metres (60 feet) of conductor from the nearest GPL pole to the meter box at no cost to the consumer. The provisions further allow for the consumer's main isolator switch to be located inside or outside the building. Once outside it must be protected in a waterproof enclosure acceptable to GPL.

GPL's meter box will be known as the "Consumer Interface" and determine the "Point of Supply". GPL will be responsible for the electrical protection of its networks/conductors up to this point with the consumer taking responsibility for all aspects of the electrical installation from this point.

Other issues raised at the briefing included improvement in standards of workmanship and practices within the industry, along with the initiating and maintenance of regular contact and dialogue with government's electrical inspectors, the Ministry of Works, GPL and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards.

The association is also interested in developing a line of communication with consumer groups, the insurance association and training institutions with the intention of ensuring the continued development of personnel employed in the industry. (Oscar P. Clarke)