Guyana Power and Light (GPL) yesterday urged residents to desist from erecting and installing illegal street lights.

The utility company said in a press release that electricity theft is an offence and any person found guilty of erecting or installing any illegal street light will be prosecuted.

GPL says it is not responsible for street lighting and no person can apply to the company to have street lighting in his area.

It added that all applications for street lighting must be sent to the Lighting Authority at the Mayor and City Council in Georgetown, while in rural communities, the Authority is located at the offices of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), and in the case of small towns, at the offices of the Town Council.

The release pointed out that the cost of street lighting includes the cost of purchasing and installing the lights, as well as the monthly energy charge.

The average cost of operating a 175 watt mercury vapour lamp, the kind commonly sold in stores and which uses about 65 units of electricity, is about $3,500 per month.