THE watchdog, Public Utilities Commission (PUC), says it has been receiving many enquiries and complaints from consumers concerning water rates charged by the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) this year as against last year.

As such, the complainants have been enquiring from the PUC, which is tasked with the responsibility for granting any such increases, whether such approval has been granted recently.

The Commission, in a release recently, stated that when it makes an order it sets out certain bands, and the rates approved for each band are the legal rates.

The PUC noted too, it had ruled that GWI restructure the tariff bands to allow for uniformity and a smaller number of bands, but that GWI has not yet submitted its proposals to be considered for approval.

GWI should therefore submit its proposals for the uniformity of the bands and categories, if it considers it necessary and prudent, the release added.

Additionally, the PUC categorically states that consumers cannot be placed in any different bands or rate category, without the approval of the Commission.

Further, it noted that the customer category “GUYWA” represents consumers in the country areas who were originally served by GUYWA, while the customer category “GS&WC” represents consumers in the Georgetown area who were originally served by the “Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commissioners’.
A list of the water rates as approved by the PUC are :
DOMESTIC CONSUMERS - UNMETERED. APPROVED TARIFF
(Annual)
GUYWA Rural Domestic ……………. $ 8,976

GUYWA Domestic Low…………… 8,976

GUYWA Domestic Medium ………… 13,860

GUYWA Domestic High……………… 15,840

NON-DOMESTIC CONSUMERS –UNMETERED APPROVED TARIFF
(Annual)
Domestic Combined …………………… $ 10,824

Small Commercial ………..…………….. 16,462

Medium Commercial ……….………….. 39,501

Large Commercial……………………… 131,670

Small Institutions ……………………… 16,462

Medium Institutions …………………… 39,501

Large Institutions ……………………… 131,670

Small Industrial ……………………….. 32,918

Medium Industrial 65,835

Large Industrial 219,450

DOMESTIC CONSUMERS - UNMETERED APPROVED TARIFF
(Annual)
GS&WC Domestic Low ………….. $ 11,880

GS&WC Domestic Medium………. 18,480

GS&WC Domestic High………….. 21,120

GS&WC Domestic High………….. 33,000

SEWERAGE APPROVED TARIFF
(Annual)
Domestic all ……………… $ 5,040

Non-Domestic metered all ……………… 25,200

Non-Domestic metered all …………… 26,400

METERED DOMESTIC APPROVED TARIFF
GUYWA Domestic Rural (per cubic meter) ………… $ 60.90

GUYWA Domestic Low (per cubic meter) ……………… 60.90

GUYWA Domestic Medium (per cubic meter) ..………… 60.90

GUYWA Domestic High (per cubic meter)………………. 94.50

METERED COMMERICAL APPROVED TARIFF
GUYWA Non-Domestic (per cubic meter) …………… $ 96.60

METERED DOMESTIC APPROVED TARIFF
GS&WC Domestic Medium (per cubic meter) ……… $ 63.00

GS&WC Domestic High (per cubic meter) …………… 94.50

GS&WC Domestic - ………………112.35

METERED COMMERCIAL APPROVED TARIFF
GS&WC Non-Domestic (per cubic meter) ………… $ 100.80
Further, the PUC said it had granted approval for a fixed charge for consumption of water, and ancillary charges.

For Domestic Metered Consumers who consume 10m³ or less water, the fixed monthly charge will be

Rateable bands 1 and 2 ………… .$600.00

Rateable band 3 ………………………$900.00

Rateable bands 4 – 5………………….$1100.00

However, consumers who use more than 10m³ will not pay a fixed charge but will be billed for the volume of water consumed.

NON DOMESTIC METERED CONSUMERS who consume 15m³ or less will be billed a monthly fixed charge only of $1500.00.

Those who consume more than 15m³ will, however, not pay a fixed charge, but will be billed for the volume of water consumed.

ANCILLARY CHARGES
Domestic connection fee………………………$ 1000.00

Domestic reconnection fee………………………. 600.00

Domestic tamper fee……………………………… 25,000.00

Non domestic connection fee (for 3/4″ connection) 1000.00

Non-domestic connection fee (for more than a 3/4”

connection)………………..priced according to costs quoted by GWI.

on domestic re-connection fee………………….$13,000.00

Non-domestic tamper fee…………………………$50,000