| The state’s power company has blamed internal corruption for failure to reduce its technical and commercial losses,Cheap NFL Jerseys, according to its 2011 Annual Report tabled in the National Assembly last week.GPL Chairman Winston BrassingtonThe report said the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) spent almost $6B more on fuel in 2011, as oil prices soared that year. As a result, the almost $22.5B spent on fuel was the main factor why the company recorded a $3.3B loss in that year. The fuel increase was primarily borne by the company.Government assisted GPL with a $1.5B cash subsidy that year to help pay for the fuel.The number of customers grew by 10,108 to 161,396 in 2011. The company’s revenue collection saw a 3.63% increase.GPL has been battling with severe losses from aging transmission lines,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, but there is a major project to replace these and the construction of seven new sub-stations around the country.But perhaps its harshest challenge will be the rise of fuel prices on the world market.At the end of 2011, the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils remained the biggest debtors of the power company, owing in excess of $800M.Regarding the increase in the number of new customers, Chairman of the Board, Winston Brassington, reported that the development of new housing schemes, commercial units and connection to new areas were the reasons. And this trend is likely to continue.In 2011, also,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, overall revenue growth increased to $27.5B, up from $26.5B the previous year.Despite efforts, GPL said it failed to rein in its technical and commercial losses which continue to remain a significant challenge. As a matter of fact, these increased from 31.3% to 31.6% that year. Technical losses from transmission lines and other equipment increased from 14.3% in 2010 to 14.5%, “largely on account of the transmission and distribution network, reflecting its age and limited capacity relative to demand,” according to the Chairman.GPL also admitted that non-technical losses, which involved theft of electricity, worsened in 2011 to 17.1%.“This is despite various initiatives implemented by the company, including the introduction of the CIS (Customer Information System) billing system, replacement of defective meters and removal of illegal connections. Theft remains an enormous challenge and the intended benefits from the 2010 amendments to the legal framework to support GPL’s loss reduction drive, have not materialised,” Brassington said in defence.He blamed internal wrongdoing for the lack of progress.“Further, issues of corruption (both internally and externally) have affected gains on loss reduction. GPL continues to be plagued by high staff turnover in the Loss Reduction Division. In spite of the challenges,NFL Jerseys China Online, the company will continue to pursue a menu of initiatives geared towards reducing losses.”In 2011, 6,437 defective meters were replaced and 2,Authentic Carolina Panthers Jersey,497 meter interfaces were upgraded in accordance with new wiring regulations. During that year also, 10,286 prepaid meters were installed for residential and small business consumers. GPL said it carried out 162 raids during that year, compared to 192 the previous year. It removed 6,Cheap Jerseys,803 illegal connections compared to the 10,837 in 2010. While 47 staffers were dismissed for wrongdoing in 2010,Hombre/Mujer Mister Cartoon x Nike Cortez QS LA Blancas/Rojo Universidad AA4875-002, this reduced to 8 the next year. There were 420 arrests in 2011; 11 convictions; 405 pending cases and six cases struck out. |
