Stealing from GPL is unacceptable
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
April 10, 2007
The recent arrest and conviction of two persons who were caught stealing electricity from Guyana Power and Light (GPL) will give a moral boost to the company’s efforts to stem this escalating crime.
The conviction carried a $50,000 fine and one year’s imprisonment and should sound a warning to perpetrators and those contemplating stealing power from GPL.
Of course this practice is both inimical to the financial status of GPL and the well-being of the thieves who are constantly at risk of being electrocuted.
Supplying power to the national grid has always been a challenge to any company taking on that responsibility.
The rising cost of fuel, administrative hiccups and internal corruption often plague the power companies.
In recent years, with new housing areas springing up and the established ones being extended, there has been a growing demand on power resources.
GPL investigations have disclosed that power-stealing is more prevalent in these housing communities.
But large-stealing by big commercial businesses and upper-class consumers in the city is still very much a part of the culture.
The offence carries a stiffer penalty for repeat offenders. The power company has discovered that several first offenders feel that it would be safe to continue stealing power as GPL would not check them again in a hurry.
This is not so, however, and GPL has been working closely with the police over the past two years to ferret out these illegal connections, whether they be set up by first offenders as well as repeat offenders.
The strategy of returning to check out first offenders soon after their conviction has paid off. The Electricity Sector Reform Act states that if an offender is convicted a second time for the same offence, he shall be liable to a fine of $10,000 for every day on which the offence is committed.
We fully support GPL in its campaign to eliminate illegal connections.
Besides robbing the company of revenue, the practice negates attempts by the company to review the cost to consumers with a view to reducing this.
It also has a more serious consequence--- it can result in the electrocution of the perpetrators as well as innocent persons.
The company is working on another initiative as it seeks to engage community leaders to support their campaign.
We endorse this strategy and appeal to community leaders and citizens as a whole to become involved.
The company needs national support.
Stealing from GPL is unacceptable