The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) reported that it had experienced a disruption in its computerised systems and PBX (telephone system) last Wednesday, but has not refuted rumours that the electricity company experienced a hacking of its system.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the utility company noted that prepaid customers have not been affected by this disruption.

The disruption affected the company’s Customer Call Centre and Customer Service Centre.
“Our Customer Call Centre service has since been restored to normalcy. The company is working assiduously to restore normalcy to its operations. GPL sincerely apologises for any inconvenience that this disruption may have caused,” the company’s statement read.
At least one online media entity has purported that the company’s computer system was hacked and that millions was lost in the process.

The company was expected to send out another press release late Friday to address the issue however up to press time none had been disseminated. Late Friday evening the company issued a statement on its Facebook page reminding that the prepaid system was still operational; however it said nothing about its postpaid service.

“The Guyana Power and Light wishes to assure the general public that its prepaid system has been and remains fully operational. Prepaid customers are encouraged to purchase their prepaid tokens and credit from authorised vendors,” the FB post said.

The disruption comes at a time when many GPL customers have been complaining about increases in their bills since late last year. GPL Metering Manager of the Loss Reduction Department, Wayne Watson, had explained that the increases are due to several consumers having had their meters replaced last year as part of the Power Utility Upgrading Programme (PUUP).

He said the old meters had become defective and were not giving accurate readings on the consumers’ consumption.