| Attempts by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to regularise its system of payment for water has resulted in several customers crying foul and even seeking the intervention of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to ensure that they are not exploited.According to the PUC Chairman, Justice Prem Persaud,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, the Commission has been receiving numerous enquires and complaints concerning the rates for water.He said that the complaints deal with requests for rates in excess of what customers claimed to have paid during last year, thus raising the question as to whether the PUC had granted any increases.As a result, the PUC will be publishing a list of rates it had approved,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, and which stipulates what customers are legally entitled to pay.Also, it was noted that when the Commission made its order, it had set out certain bands and indicated the rates approved for each band as the legal rates.Justice Persaud said that the PUC had ruled that the GWI restructure the tariff bands to allow for uniformity and a smaller number of bands.However, it was disclosed that the GWI has not yet submitted its proposal to the PUC for consideration and approval.But according to Justice Persaud, GWI customers cannot be placed in any different bands or rate category without the approval of the PUC.Accordingly,Cheap Jerseys Online, the chairman pointed out that GWI must submit its proposal for the uniformity of the bands and categories if it considers it necessary and prudent.But GWI in a recent correspondence, informed customers that as part of its efforts to regularise water service charges, there is the likelihood that the customers would be moved from one band to another to reflect the service level they are currently enjoying.According to the correspondence from GWI, “a customer who is basically enjoying a service level of stand pipe service in their yard and does not have other facilities will be placed in the lowest band.Those who are receiving treated water at first floor level or thereafter will be in a different band.”It was noted that a complete review of the GWI database would be engaged with a view to regularising the placement of customers in the appropriate band.Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Karan Singh, in an invited comment yesterday said that while efforts are being made to regularise the system, there has been no increase in tariffs.He said that the GWI move is in keeping with the entity’s thrust to ensure that customers pay for the services they receive.Singh said that GWI’s investigations unearthed that over the years, several customers were placed in the wrong category of payment, noting that some people who have commercial operations were in fact paying domestic rates.“GWI never checked before at the operations of the premises, so now we are checking and correcting the problem and people are ready to complain…“When they were paying little or nothing they were fine with that, but now they want to complain…”Singh explained, too,Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys, that some modifications were also made with regards to customers living in ‘well-to-do’ residential areas,NFL Jerseys China, since according to him, “a customer receiving treated water 24 hours a day cannot pay the same amount as a customer living in Enmore for example.”He however maintained that the GWI has continued to bill customers with the rates, which were approved by the PUC, with the only difference being that customers are now paying for what they use.Rumours have been circulating in some sects that the water entity has been over-charging some customers,Cheap Hockey Jerseys, particularly business places, based on the amount of human resources the entity has in its employ rather than the customary meter reading process.However, this newspaper understands that a meeting between the PUC and GWI is likely to be convened shortly with a view to setting the records straight on the operations of the water entity. |
