Dear Editor,
I wish to bring a matter of serious concern to the Hon. Minister of Public Infrastructure Mr David Patterson and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Power and Light (GPL). On the 20th May 2016,I bought a pre-paid card from GPL Anna Regina branch to replenish my pre-paid account, meter number M 14026030842. I found that the card which I bought couldn’t enter the pre-paid meter. I informed the GPL contractor Sanjay what was happening.He came and tried to enter the numbers of the card, he was unsuccessful. He took out my meter since he claimed that it has malfunctioned and it will be repaired by GPL.

He told me that the meter will be returned the next week. He took an inventory of what was in the building in terms of electrical appliances; he then attached a straight electrical line from the light pole to the building so I can get electricity for my tenant without a meter. I kept enquiring almost every week at GPL when my pre-paid meter will be returned, only to get fair promises it will be repaired soon. This went on for nine months. I then decided to go in to the commercial section since I wasn’t getting any bill or any meter. I was handed an estimated account for the nine months;lo and behold, I nearly dropped dead after seeing the estimated account.

I was given a piece of paper by the cashier which states 05/20/2016,(37) weeks,259 days x 7 kwh= 1813@ 56.35 =$ 102,217. Mind you this is an estimated account which my tenant has to pay without any justification. I tried to get some explanation how GPL arrived at this account only to be told that it was estimated from the previous tenant. This is atrocious, the previous tenant had more electrical equipment in the building so there is no way GPL can use the last bills to estimate the present tenant usage of current. Something definitely is not right here,if that’s the way GPL is doing customers estimate usage for electricity.

Over five years I had applied for this pre-paid meter and was using it on the said building without any problem, not satisified with the explanation, I tried to contact Miss Charles of the commercial office at the head office but I did not get her. The secretary decided to listen to my query and also told me that’s the way GPL will do their estimate for customers without meters. Anyhow she took my pre-paid meter number and told me that she and Miss Charles will chart a way forward on the account. She took my landline and cell phone numbers but nothing has happened since I spoke to her. No calls were returned to me so I can know what next steps I should take to query this hefty account.

Some of the young ladies that I spoke to at the Anna Regina branch were very kind and courteous and they too disagreed with the way the estimate was done for a poor woman who is trying to make an honest living and to take care of her children. At the moment all I want is GPL to return my pre-paid meter which I paid for over five years. For me this is a royal push around by some staff at GPL. I hope the Hon. Minister of Infrastructure and the CEO or someone in authority here at Anna Regina, can do something about my complaint so I can get justice. Some staff here think that I am applying for a meter, they told me that I have to wait because hundreds of applications are in the system waiting for a meter.

The fact is, I am not applying for a pre-paid meter, I am simply asking that GPL return my meter, because I cannot afford a straight line from the pole to my building with estimated charges nine months and I cannot get back my meter.

Regards
Mohamed Khan