CHAIRPERSON of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Dela Britton, has joined calls for the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to review its burdensome reconnection fee.

Britton, an attorney-at-all, issued the call on Wednesday, during a World Consumer Rights Day webinar, where she disclosed that several discussions were held with the country’s main utility companies.

She said that the discussions were centred around the need for those companies to reduce the financial burdens that they place on consumers.

“We urge GWI to review the cost associated with the disconnection and reconnection with a view to implementing a cost effective, disconnection method which would decrease the deficit of the company,” she said.

In 2021, GWI raised its reconnection fees to $7,500 for residential customers. The company had come under fire, with several consumer rights activists speaking out against the hike in the reconnection fee.

The company had stated that the increase was necessary to bolster its’s financial status as at the time it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

However, GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh, recently highlighted that the company’s financial viability was restored from a position of bankruptcy. It was as a result of this that the call for a review of the fee was again made.

Meanwhile, Britton noted that the body was able to negotiate an increase in the credit limit to allow consumers an extended grace period for the payment of their bills as well as an extended disconnection notice to 24 hours.

“In an effort to reduce the financial burden on the consumers, we increased the credit limit to allow consumers an extended grace payment period. We extended the four-hour disconnection notice to 24 hours, and we urge GWI to review the costs associated with the disconnection and reconnection of consumers with a view to implementing cost effective disconnection methods,” Britton said.
She further noted that, as part of efforts to educate consumers about their rights, the PUC has embarked on a public consultation.

She added that the body remains committed to ensuring that consumer rights are protected and will continue its strict monitoring of the service providers in the utility sector.

Britton explained that the advent of liberalisation of the telecommunication sector has created “a competitive environment where the consumer can expect greater choices, lower prices and [a] better quality of service.”

In this regard, the commission is continuing its “strict monitoring” of all players in the sector, she said.

According to the PUC Chairman, for the year 2022, the PUC received a large number of complaints from consumers and was also able to seek redress to the tune of over $60 million.

These efforts she said will be continued this year.

“The Public Utilities Commission is committed to ensuring that consumers have the right opportunity to seek redress for issues, [be] treated fairly [and] have access to information to make informed decisions,” she said adding that the commission continues to advocate for consumer rights and promote consumer education.

“It is hoped that this will provide the necessary impetus to advance the cause of the consumer and to put him or her firmly in the driver’s seat,” she said.