–as service-removal campaign continues

GUYANA Water Inc. (GWI) yesterday announced the launching of a new programme, titled ‘Operation Reconnect’, which will offer disconnected customers the opportunity to re-connect their service without penalty fees. 

According to a GWI press release, as of yesterday, disconnected customers are required to pay only their outstanding service charges if payment is made within three working days.

In addition, GWI said that it is waiving all re-connection and tampering fees, so customers who have tampered with GWI’s service connections in order to re-connect their service will not be charged penalty fees and the same waiver will be applied for disconnection fees.

GWI’s Customer Services Manager, Jeanette Thomas, is quoted as saying that, “We are receiving alarming reports of customers re-connecting their service illegally, which had a significantly negative impact on revenue collection for Georgetown in February 2014.”

INSPECTORS
Thomas said that the utility has no other option but to remove the entire service of these customers. However, GWI water service inspectors will be visiting areas in which GWI had previously disconnected to distribute letters urging customers to re-connect their service.

“It is our last resort to remove the entire service of a disconnected customer, since that customer will have to pay the full cost of a new service,” stated Thomas.

“It is our priority to re-connect customers rather than remove their service,” stated Thomas. “However, if no payments are made following receipt of ‘service removal’ warning letters, we will be forced to remove all services which were disconnected and illegally re-connected by customers.”

GWI’s ‘Wallet-friendly Payment Plans’ are also a feature of ‘Operation Re-connect’ and this will allow disconnected customers with large debts to pay in small, flexible amounts designed to suit their incomes and budgets.

“A wide range of options is available to our customers,” stated Thomas. “We urge all disconnected customers to make payments and avoid the expense of having their services removed and applying for a new GWI connection.”

‘Operation Re-connect’ will initially focus on Georgetown customers but the programme will be executed via other GWI branches by April 2014.

Disconnected customers with queries can contact GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701/03/04; e-mail GWI Public Relations via pro@gwi.gy or post queries via social media: www.facebook.com/everydropcountsgy More information on ‘Operation Reconnect’ is available at www.gwiguyana.com

(Michel Outridge)