No last minute rush: GPL urges prepaid meter customers to get new upgrade

There are over 40,000 Guyana Power and Light (GPL) customers who use prepaid meters and the electricity company is urging customers to upgrade those devices before October 31, 2024 so that they can keep getting power.

The secure system used by these prepaid meters- known as the Standard Transfer Specification- is being upgraded worldwide from its current ‘Version Four’ to ‘Version Six.’

And unless customers upgrade their meters, they would not be able to use the system to pay for and receive electricity.

“It’s important (to upgrade your meters) because come October 31, you wouldn’t be able to purchase credit

“Please do not wait for the last minute,” GPL’s Customer Service Officer, Shawndel Smith said on Saturday at the sidelines of a GPL outreach activity at the Giftland Mall, Georgetown.

Smith highlighted that of GPL’s more than 40,000 customers, only about 7,000 have upgraded their meters thus far. She, however, emphasised that all customers must get the upgrade or they would not be able to use the prepaid meters from November 1, 2024.

Addressing concerns, Smith explained that the upgrade will not impact people’s tokens and as such, no one will be paying extra for the electricity they use.

GPL can be contacted (via direct call or WhatApp) on 603-8645 or 690-3128 to get the upgrade tokens and assistance with upgrading the meters.