On the 1st day of October 1990, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a corporate body was established under the PUC Act of 1990 and it now operates under the Public Utilities Act, No. 19 of 2016. The Commission has oversight for the Electricity, Telecommunications and Water and Sewage sectors in Guyana.
An internal forensic audit of complaints received by the Commission against the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) was conducted with a concentration on the segment of consumers by whom it was alleged electricity theft was perpetuated. The study revealed that the appliance audit list which was utilised for over fifteen (15) years to back-bill consumers’ accounts required urgent revision.
Back-billing is the process used by Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) to recover commercial losses from electricity theft such as meter tampering, meter bypass and defective meters. When electricity theft is detected, GPL is required to retroactively bill consumers’ accounts to recover from the electricity utilised but not recorded by the meter for a period not exceeding twenty-four (24) months.
Recognising that the measurements on the list of appliances were outdated, the Commission seized the opportunity to review the existing appliance list and collaborate with GPL to determine new measurements. The study involved an analysis of best practices in the Caribbean and an examination of frequently used appliances.
A compilation of new kilowatt hour ((kWh) values was created which in turn will allow for a reduction in the values assigned to most of the appliances in use in Guyana.
The new consumption index will be made effective from the 1st July 2023 and the list will be found on the Commission’s website – www.puc.org.gy.
