Princes Town MP, Barry Padarath is calling on the General Manager of T&TEC to level with the population on reports of low voltages throughout the country over the past two weeks.
Padarath, who serves as the Opposition Shadow Minister for Public Utilities said that constituents as well as citizens from other areas were reporting low voltages in their communities that resulted in appliances and equipment being damaged.
The MP further stated that these low voltages were not isolated events since several areas reported frequent dips in electricity voltage.
He added that part of the RIC’s mandate in determining new rates must take into consideration the quality or lack thereof of service that customers receive.
Padarath questioned the reasons for the low voltages and further called on T&TEC to indicate what was causing the issue.
He indicated that if the voltage is too low, the amperage increases, which may result in the malfunctioning of appliances and even cause fires.
Padarath said that as electricity flows through a wire, some of the energy is lost as heat due to resistance.
He added that it is essential to keep in mind that a voltage drop doesn’t just affect the efficiency of an electrical system but it can also generate heat that can have serious consequences.
The Opposition Shadow Minister for Public Utilities further called on T&TEC to move expeditiously to address the concerns of the public on this matter.
He also urged citizens to be mindful of the impacts of low voltages as it continues to occur in different parts of the country.