From the inception of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) employed several measures to soften the effects of COVID-19 on its valued customers.
This includes but was not limited to the delay of planned network maintenance.
According to GPL, planned maintenance activities on the network are crucial to prevent service disruptions and to allow for a continuous and reliable supply of electricity to all served areas.
It added that, “It should be noted that GPL remains challenged with an aged Transmission and Distribution (T&D) network, therefore, such maintenance activities must be conducted in keeping with our annual maintenance plan and cannot be delayed any further.”
Additionally, GPL pointed out that the May/June rainy season is here and wishes to inform that it is taking the necessary precautions to reduce the impact of localızed faults; hence, network maintenance is of utmost importance for a stable and reliable supply of electricity.
GPL, therefore said, it is cognizant of the shifts occurring nationally regarding employees working from home due to the risks associated with COVID-19 Pandemic.
With this in mind, the company has advertised these interruptions across multimedia platforms with the intent of alerting our customers who will be affected by the service interruptions; to allow for sufficient time for alternative provisions to be put in place.
Finally, as mentioned earlier, several measures were employed by GPL to provide relief to our customers; these are:
1. Shift of numerous in-store services to our website www.gplinc.net; some of which are the
submission of service applications, consumer claims, and queries;
2. Additionally, we’ve suspended disconnections until further notice for all postpaid customers, coupled with decentralized payment services thus making purchasing tokens and paying bills widely accessible to customers. These include online, electronically and in-store services (both GPL and Authorised Agents);
3. Most recently, electricity consumption was exempted of the fourteen percent (14%) Valued Added Tax (VAT) for a period of three months; and
4. Alternative service options, which supplements for Meter Reading and Bill Delivery Suspension were advertised across multimedia platforms as well.
In closing, GPL reaffirmed that it remains committed to ensuring there is sufficient and available capacity to meet demand, while at the same time improving the quality of supply to all consumers.
