PHILIPSBURG--Utilities company GEBE says it will end its six-month COVID-19 relief to its 20,000-plus consumers as of September 30 and has indicated that the earliest disconnections for non-payment of bills will start in October.
GEBE said in a press statement that in April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in discussion with government, it initiated a plan to provide relief to its more than 20,000 customers in the form of a fixed reduced fuel clause rate of NAf. 18 cents per kilowatt-hour. The relief was set for a period of six months and was geared to financially assist all customers and, by extension, the community.
During the six months of the relief, the monthly calculated fuel clause rates varied between NAf. 23 cents and NAf. 8 cents, to the now latest value of NAf. 19.8 cents for September.
GEBE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenrick Chittick said, “Fortunately, the current trend of the fuel prices does not indicate a substantial increase in the nearest foreseeable future.”
Besides the reduced fuel clause, GEBE said it had also suspended its late-payment fees during the six months and had offered payment plans to customers who had been affected financially by the effects of the pandemic.
“Chittick informs that September 30, 2020, will mark the end of the relief period and that NV GEBE will resume its regular operations. In doing so, Mr. Chittick stated that the monthly fuel clause rate will be billed as per the tariffs charged to NV GEBE by the fuel supplier as of the following billing cycle,” it was stated in the release.
“As the company prepares to resume its regular operations, the company encourages customers to be mindful of their energy consumption and to maintain good payment standing to avoid disconnection.”
Chittick said GEBE will continue to assist customers experiencing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with a payment arrangement, but indicated that the earliest disconnections for non-payment will begin in October.
