– City areas, Black Bush Polder targeted
(GINA) Sections of Kitty, North Ruimveldt, and Bourda Market, and Black Bush Polder in Region Six are some of the areas earmarked to benefit from the prepaid meter pilot project of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

Some 2,000 meters are to be installed and the power company has already embarked on a number of community engagements as it prepares to pilot the new technology which offers loss reduction advantages.

The prepaid meter which GPL intends to use as a replacement for the traditional meters is similar in operation of a prepaid cellular service, since consumers purchase power in the form of credits from a vendor.

The new technology is the latest in prepaid service, and according to Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Bharrat Dindyal, it allows customers to carefully manage their electricity.

“It allows you to manage your electricity in cases where persons find it difficult to pay an entire month’s bill at one time; it allows them to purchase electricity and use it in small amounts as the cash flow would allow,” Dindyal explained.

The CEO said discussions have already been held with vendors who will be facilitating the sale of electricity, and GPL is hopeful that by June, these stakeholders will complete the necessary Information Technology arrangements.

Additionally, both GPL and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company are required to have some supporting infrastructure in place, all of which should be ready prior to the installation of the meters.

A prepaid meter is a device which consists of a display unit that is setup in the house and is interconnected to a central meter established on an electric pole.

The consumer wishing to purchase power approaches the vendor/seller and discloses a number that is assigned to the consumer’s house meter. The consumer is then given a code that is linked to the meter number.

In an interview with the Government Information Agency, Dindyal explained that the code is specific to the consumer’s meter and that it cannot be used on any other in event that it is stolen or misplaced.

The consumer is then required to enter the code into the display unit inside the house and indicate the quantity of power needed.

The technology also has a wide range of features, such as a built in alarm mechanism, an electricity duration indicator and other services that would update the customer on a timely basis.

Dindyal said “emergency power cards” will also be introduced, which would allow the consumer to have emergency power electricity if his/her credit comes to an end.

In the last quarter of this year, GPL intends to install another 2,000 prepaid meters.