The Petition

PETITION TO DELAY THE INSTALLATION OF THE RAITPOWER PREPAYMENT METER SYSTEM IN KIUNGA, WESTERN PROVINCE

14 July 2011

We, your aggrieved constituents, are here to present this petition to voice our concern over the very disturbing and disheartening methods being employed by the provincial government and/or its proxies in the implementation of the Raitpower meter system in Kiunga.

We initially welcomed the bold initiative taken by the government to take over the power as part of the OTML mine closure plan. We see this as the way forward towards self-sufficiency, and accepted the need to pay for the service provided for by the government. But, sadly, the optimism has been marred by the severe lack of information preceding the Raitpower system and what some has construed as the misuse and/or abuse of governmental power in its implementation. You have forced us to swallow something that we were not prepared for. You have taken us by surprise.

There was no formal awareness campaign conducted to inform people about the implementation of this new system. How and when are the meters going to be installed? How does the prepaid system work? And, most importantly, what rates are being charged? Is it affordable for the average working woman/man?

Basic, necessary and vital information that could have been provided through a consultative process with the community was summarily ignored. In place, we see workers from Western Power trespassing on private property to fit Raitpower meters or to just remove existing power meters – meters bought and paid for by property owners.

There was no notification in writing from Western Power prior to their personnel showing up at the doorsteps of homeowners, and in a few cases just entering homes to change and/or remove meters. If there was any objection to the effect, the police was called in. This has given rise to another mystery: why did the police enforce the ‘right’ of Western Power to enter private property without the expressed consent of the property owners? In a few cases, the police on site even threatened property owners, warning them of dire consequences if they did not allow Western Power personnel to ‘do their work’. The police even sanctioned property damage – the cutting of locks on existing meter boxes in the absence of property owners.

REVIEW OF THE RATES URGENTLY NEEDED

We obtained the following figures from a survey conducted at the Catholic Mission: their salaried staff earns an average of K260.00 per fortnight, and about 60% of their employees fall within this range. At the current rate of K0.80 per kw/h, the average mission employee’s power bill is around K50.00 per fortnight. This represents about 20% of the employee’s gross pay! Is it any wonder that you presently have so many disgruntled constituents? Many have resorted to wood-fires again just to save on electricity. Are the exorbitant rates pushing your constituents back into the stone-age?

Why are the same rates being imposed on the institutions catering to the health and educational needs of your constituents? If it is expected that the cost be passed on, or worse the services be shed, then this will just further burden a community already struggling with the lack of basic amenities and the very high cost of living in Kiunga.

All this would have come to light if the process had been a consultative one where a survey of your constituents’ needs and circumstances were carefully evaluated.

But the rates that seem to be arbitrarily imposed and adjusted also raises the question: Does Western Power have the regulatory authority (granted through ICCC) to charge this rate?

THE IMPLICATION OR EFFECTS OF THE CURRENT POWER RATE

• In comparison with other areas in PNG, Kiunga has become a very expensive town to live and work in. This effectively makes it unattractive for people from other areas to work here. Development of the district would be stymied as a result.

  • • The power rate charged has hit some residents so hard that they are now planning to leave at the end of the year.

    • Education will be terribly affected when that happens as most of the teachers in our two secondary schools, Kiunga Vocational Tehnical Centre and the primary schools are from outside of the province.

• Any increase of school fees to meet the power bill will adversely affect the rural populace who will not be able to afford their children’s fees.

• Increase in prices of necessities and sundry goods in shops as a result of the high power rates will only bring about more hardship to residents already burdened and crippled by the high cost of living in Kiunga.

• The two Technical and Vocational centres will have to limit or stop the usage of their heavy equipment and/or machines (i.e. wielding machines) to conserve electricity. This will severely affect the learning of students attending these institutions.

• The fees at the hospital will also be increased, which will severely impact the rural people and the low income earners.

In the light of the above, we strongly demand the following:

1. Put an IMMEDIATE STOP to the installation of Raitpower or Easy Pay system in Kiunga and reinstate the original system.

2. That the Fly River Provincial Government together with PNGSDP and Ok Tedi to seriously consider bringing hydro power from Ok Mega to Kiunga and Western. We do understand that the power generated through diesel is very expensive, and this will effectively make power more sustainable, accessible and affordable for us by reducing the rate charged for power in the long run.

3. That the idea of introducing the Rait Power System in Kiunga can come into force when the Hydro power from Ok mega is connected or supplied to Kiunga. That will truly demonstrate the commitment of both the Fly River Government and PNGSDP’s desire in seriously considering the use of hydro power from Ok Mega to Kiunga. We do understand that the power generated through diesel is very expensive, and this will effectively make power more affordable for us by reducing the rate charged for power in the long run.

4. Institutions like the church and schools had their meters taken while they were in the process of negotiating bulk billing procedures with Western Power. As such, all meters taken without consent are to be reinstated. Listed below are a few of the aggrieved institutions we are aware of:

a. St Gabriel’s School – 28 meters taken

b. Callan Services staff houses – 5 meters taken

c. St Brigid’s Church – 2 meters taken

d. Catholic Mission staff houses – 3 meters taken

e. Martha Tabi – 5 meters taken

f. Richard Tona – 1 meter taken

g. Kiunga Montfort Primary School – 12 metres taken

h. Gre tutu Primary School - 3 meters taken

i. Kiunga Technical Vocational Training Centre – 12 meters taken

These are the few demands we present to you.

We urge careful reflection and a prompt response from the Provincial Administration as the anger and frustration of the people is mounting.

We are giving you fourteen days from the date of this petition to respond. For if our concerns are not addressed, we intend to pursue the matter further.

Thank You.