– GPL officialOil prices on the world market have plummeted to close to $US40 per barrel, but it is unlikely that there will be a reduction in electricity rates charged by the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) in the near future.This is according to a senior official at the company, who pointed out that when oil prices skyrocketed,Wholesale Jerseys From China, the company was forced to cut back on several key programmes.The official noted that, this year, the National Assembly had to approve billions of dollars to avoid another tariff increase that would have adversely affected consumers.It was noted that there will have to be a financial review of 2008 in the new year, and with the additional funds being made available as a result of the reduced prices, several of the vital programmes that had to be cut could be reinstituted.Then there is also the review of the 2009 budget for the power company.Alliance For Change Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, when the price of oil had dropped below $US50, had called for a reduction in tariffs and had suggested that the December electricity rates should reflect that reduction.Ramjattan’s position was prompted by a recent announcement by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds that, if the price were to fall below US$50 per barrel and remain below that mark, a decrease in electricity rates would be possible.The comment was made in response to a question about when a possible reduction could be seen in fuel prices locally.At the time, there was already a significant decrease in oil prices on the world market,nba jerseys discount, then down from a high of US$147 per barrel to below US$65 per barrel. Present-day price for oil is lower than US$50 per barrel.GPL is currently operating at just about break-even, when one considers its revenue against the total cost of operations, with fuel supply being one of the largest expenses, according to the official.Earlier in the year, the total cost of operations far outweighed the revenue generated, which prompted the Government to inject more than $3B into the company.Another factor compounding the situation is the fact that the GPL is faced with 33 per cent technical and commercial losses.This is a minimal reduction, and the fact that the company has been more or less strapped for cash is the reason behind the very minimal decrease of about three per cent, given that the company had to almost cease investment in reducing the losses.Ramjattan had posited, however, that he was almost certain that the administration would respond to the AFC call in the same way most minibus drivers responded to the reduction in fuel prices, blaming increased expenditure on spare parts.As such, the company will claim that it cannot reduce its charges.People’s National Congress Reform executive member Aubrey Norton, in an invited comment, had also called for an immediate reduction in the electricity rates.He drew reference to the fact that the Government was demanding a reduction in minibus fares as a result of the said reduction in fuel prices.Norton added that a reduction of electricity prices will have a positive ripple effect on the country,Wholesale Jerseys China, in that there would be increased economic activity, resulting in growth of the economy,Wholesale Jerseys, with increased revenue for the state.He noted that it would also give a little more to the average Guyanese, in that it would be additional money in hand to spend on other needs,Cheap Jerseys China, such as food.