GPL's estimated bills are not acceptable
Consumer Concerns
By Eileen Cox
Stabroek News
May 19, 2002
There is no end to the complaints about GPL's billing system. It all stems from the use of estimated bills. If enough men cannot be found to read meters why not employ women in the field? If there is still a dearth of meter readers, then there is no option but to allow consumers to read their own meters, to record the units consumed and submit same to GPL. Estimated billing must stop.
The present situation is totally unacceptable. On Monday, May 13, Stabroek News published a column 'What the people say about the Guyana Power and Light's service.' Seven consumers of electricity were totally dissatisfied with GPL's billing system. Two others were not sure about the amount they should be paying.
The household that is using a refrigerator, two or three bulbs or fluorescent lights, should not consume more than 100 units a month. Many consumers do not know that there are two rates. The fixed charge of $280 applies to all customers.
Those who consumer 100 units per month or less will have to pay the $280 plus a sum of $29.71 for each unit (KWH) consumed. For 72 units consumed, the charge is $2,139. The total bill is $2,419.
The charge when more than 100 units are used is now $32.93 per KWH; for 411 units used, the charge will be $13,534.
The consumer has a responsibility to see that his refrigerator is not consuming more units than it should.
The door that is not fitting well will send your bill sky-rocketing. One consumer has a bill for $15,000 each month. The refrigerator door shows a gap and should be made to fit firmly in order to reduce the charge. Electric irons, washing machines, should add significantly to the units consumed. The consumer can see this for herself/himself if she/he looks at her meter when the washing machine is on. She will see how the meter races.
When the electricity consumed is estimated for two, three or more months in succession, the number of units appearing on the meter when it is finally read will certainly take the bill to the higher bracket of charges.
If GPL makes no allowances for the month covered by the bill, the consumer will always be paying at the higher rate. This is unacceptable.
Let us take the case of a consumer who receives a bill that jolts her into activity. She rushes down to the GPL office and is told that she must pay the bill. The clerk is willing to work out an arrangement with her for monthly payments. This should not be the first course of action. GPL should arrange for an experienced meter reader to visits the premises and check the reading. That is the first course of action.
Secondly, if the bill is extraordinarily high, the meter reader should seek permission to check the appliances used by the consumer to see if any are faulty and to justify the excessive consumption.
In the Stabroek News of May 13 there is also a letter from a consumer who claimed that although the clerk at GPL's office conceded that a meter was faulty, he was informed that he had to pay the sum due as calculated from the faulty reading. How absurd this would be.
There seems to be a concerted effort to raise as large sums as possible from consumers of electricity. This never happened with the GEC. True enough, there was an occasional unrealistic charge. However, the clerks at GEC were instructed to pull out such bills and have a new reading before dispatching the bill to the consumer. This practice is not followed now although representatives of the Guyana Consumers Association were informed that unusually high bills would not be sent out.
We also understand that persons seeking to have meters installed on premises are required to pay arrears due from the last occupiers of the premises. This, too, is unacceptable. No one would be required to pay a debt owing by another consumer. If you have had to make such payment, you complain to the Guyana Consumers Association at 217 Lamaha street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown.
The Guyana Consumers Association has arranged to meet officials of the Guyana Power & Light Inc. bi-monthly. If you have any problems do let us know. Our next meeting is scheduled for this month.