Several companies are now taking advantage of the services offered by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a development which has effectively seen many moving away from court proceedings which at times could prove to be lengthy.This is according to PUC Complaints Manager,? Raymon Cummings.PUC Complaints Manager, Raymon CummingsHe said that once complaints are brought to the attention of the Commission a period of 120 days is allotted within which the matter should be resolved once it is related to billing. “A lot of companies have issues with all of the utilities…First companies would choose the way of the court to file an injunction which can cost a lot,Authentic Jerseys Cheap, but some have learnt of our efficient service,” Cummings mused.However, if matters are not resolved within the stipulated period,NFL Jerseys Outlet From China, the PUC has the authority to make an order based on evidence provided to it.? Efforts are usually made by the concerned parties to provide as much evidence as possible so as not to depend on a ruling from the Commission.According to Cummings, even before consumers,Boston Red Sox Jerseys, either residential or commercial,China Jerseys Cheap, take their complaints to the PUC they should first seek to ensure that the respective defaulting utility companies are given a fair chance to respond.“They (consumers) must first query the matter before coming to us. You ought to give the company a chance to deal with the matter because sometimes consumers come here and if they had gone to the company to deal with the company it could have been resolved.”Cummings added that while there have been mounting complaints over the years; those that are brought to the attention of the PUC are but a fraction of the number that actually occurs.“Every now and then people approach you and they tell you about a problem they would’ve had for a number of years…”It is for this reason that the PUC has in place a public education programme aimed at sensitising the public, Cummings said. During the course of this year efforts were made to target communities on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara and continuous efforts are made to reach persons in the capital city.“We always try to meet people in Georgetown because we find that people from all over the country frequent the market places and other places.”Earlier this year the PUC sought to extend its reach to the county of Berbice and there are plans being mulled to expand as far as Region Two and 10. While this strategic move is aimed at making people aware of their rights and obligations it is certainly not a move towards soliciting more complaints, Cummings asserted.He pointed to the fact that the ideal complaint is caused when people try to raise their issue with the respective utility companies and the matter is not resolved in a fair manner.According to the Complaints Manager, the PUC has a significant role to play in genuine matters which are of a complicated nature.However, he noted that there are some complaints reaching the PUC that should never reach the level of the Commission if both companies and consumers do the right thing. He alluded to instances where people receive estimated bills for a period of time and then a subsequent actual reading reflects a higher usage rate.? Cummings is insistent that such situations should never happen since according to him “people should be able to read their own bills and meters and understand what it says…these are everyday occurrences but when there are complicated matters we can deal with them.”Cummings said that the Commission is mandated to investigate all complaints. He added that when a significant trend of complaints is observed they are usually brought to the attention of the Chairman, Justice Prem Persaud, who in turn convenes a meeting or writes to defaulting utility companies based on the seriousness of the complaint.He explained that for matters that are perceived as serious issues “we look at them based on regulations which we use to monitor what happens…It is not about fair or not but it is based on what the regulations say.”“We are like the police…If there is no law there is no offence. We don’t make the law,DJ LeMahieu Rockies Jersey, we enforce it.”Tasked with a regulatory, investigatory and enforcement mandate which governs the operation of the Guyana Power and Light Company, the Guyana Water Incorporated, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and Digicel,NFL Jerseys Cheap, the PUC offers services that are free of charge and open t