In recognition of the risks associated with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL ) has initiated temporary modifications to various categories of its service delivery.
Starting today, all commercial locations of GPL Inc. will not accept applications for change of tenancy, termination of service, load increases/ decrease, and new services. GPL said that efforts are underway to accommodate applications for new services through its website www.gplinc.net before the end of the week. It said that customers will be kept updated on the readiness of this online platform.
Speaking to other changes made, GPL said that its field staff within the Billing, Metering and Loss Reduction Departments will not be operational until April 2020, pending a review of the developments of the situation through the Ministry of Public Health. It said that the affected services will be Residential and Commercial Meter Installations, Disconnections, Field Investigations, and Meter Reading. The utility company said that those metered customer accounts that will not be read from March 16, 2020 or unsuccessfully read prior to March 16, 2020 will be estimated if a reading is not submitted via its Whatsapp Service.
To submit a Meter Reading via WhatsApp, customers can do so via this number : 6088575. Your account number also has to be provided. Customers are only required to do this during the reading period identified on the bill.
As for the estimation formula, GPL explained that the kilowatt hours and total payable are automatically calculated as an average of the last six months. It said that this is done in accordance with the third Schedule of the Electricity Sector Reform Act Section 17 (1) and 5.2 of the STC under ‘Right of Access to Premises.
Further to this, GPL said that several of its offices will remain closed until further notice. These locations include the Mon Repos Customer Service Centre, East Coast Demerara and the Middle Street Commercial Office, Georgetown. All other Customer Service Offices and Centres remain operational as of today. Should there be any deviation from this advisory, GPL said it will continue to provide updates.
GPL also reminded that bill payments can be made by using various electronic options such as Mobile Money Guyana (MMG); and at Commercial Banks such as Republic Bank, Scotia Bank, Demerara Bank, and Citizens Bank.
