AS the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) makes good on its threat to prosecute and disconnect persons found guilty of electricity theft, it continues to suffer billions annually in technical and commercial losses.Reports reveal that 17 per cent of losses by the power company are as a result of electricity theft, and this amounts to some $2B each year.
GPL says disconnections are part of a monthly routine, and targets various areas where customers are seeking to bypass the system so as to illegally obtain electricity.
It says there were instances where one pole connection was used to power several houses in the streets and in a squatting settlement. “It was found that a pole had wires running in all directions, and in many instances, these illegal connections were running on the ground to homes,” the company reported.
The Electricity Sector Reform Act outlines severe penalties for persons found guilty of electricity theft. The authorities have made several raids in these communities before, but they are not sure of the kind of impact they have had in reducing the number of illegal connections.
The conviction rate is very minimal when compared to the number of persons charged for electricity theft.
More than 30 persons were arrested and charged in August alone, while the list continues to grow for this September month already. These persons are in court for fraudulent diversion of electricity.
On Friday last, raids were conducted in ‘D’ Field and Cummings Park, Sophia and its environs, and unearthed scores of illegal connections.
Recently, another campaign around the Vendors’ Arcade saw over two dozen stalls being disconnected because of illegal connections.
GPL has undertaken a vigorous approach to loss reduction, in that it has initiated its loss reduction project that targets mainly commercial losses. The project initially adopted practical measures such as upgrading and controlling metering of its largest customers.
Subsequently, GPL embarked on a campaign to inspect all its customers, replace defective meters, and change the unusual existing interface arrangement for low-voltage users, which is extremely susceptible to fraud. The Evaluation and Prioritisation of Loss Reduction Investments serves as the basis for the strategy to address the electricity loss problem.

By Rabindra Rooplall