GPL now depends heavily on consumer payments to manage its daily operations, and is currently operating strictly on a cash-inflow basis, without any subsidy from government, but 67 percent of its customers make habitual late payments, the Government Information Agency reported Friday.

These disclosures came from GPL executives who were panellists in a live discussion on GTV 11 last week aimed at addressing the concerns of consumers.

GPL is now reaching 96 percent of its peak demand so power outages have been substantially reduced, according to Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ronald Alli.

He said further that the former GPL management had left a debt of $1B, accrued through non-payment for fuel and fuel shipments to Guyana, coupled with the deferral of equipment servicing.

But to date the power company has reduced its indebtedness by $250M and an additional $400M will be paid out to creditors by month-end, Alli said.

Meanwhile, the company has embarked on a massive revenue collection campaign aimed at maximising its revenue base, so timely payments by customers are important to avoid disconnections, said Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Robin Singh.

In addition to debt servicing and in order to redress power supply problems caused through faulty transmission and distribution systems, GINA stated, GPL has expended some $100M towards the servicing and maintenance of equipment.

One of the major problems that baffled the previous GPL managers was commercial loss mainly through theft of electricity by consumers. Since the heightened revenue collection drive, GPL has disconnected several consumers who were in arrears for periods ranging from one month to six months.

However, there are still loopholes in the system and GPL’s Chief Commercial Officer, Sam Zimbe said that there are instances when the company took disciplinary action against members of its disconnection crew who were found guilty of colluding with consumers who handed over money to avoid being disconnected.

According to GINA, Zimbe said that consumers with queries regarding estimated readings should visit the commercial department at GPL or call him on telephone number 225-4900, while others with disconnection queries may call the company’s disconnection hotline on telephone 226-7408. He also explained that about 15 percent of GPL’s customers are billed on estimated readings largely because meter readers had no access to their premises.

During the call-in segment of the programme, GINA said, public concerns ranged from irregular billing practices to discourtesy by GPL staff.