GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) company says customers should give it “reasonable” notice of any increase in service requirements, including any increase in expected energy consumption.
GPL said its request follows several complaints from customers about voltage fluctuations, damaged meters, and burnt appliances caused by transformer and low-voltage issues, which the company said are linked to unreported increases in electricity usage.
In a statement, GPL noted that many customers have been increasing their electricity usage by installing air conditioning units and heavy-duty appliances, and by converting residential homes into multiple-dwelling units and apartments.
It said that under the existing legislation, customers should give the prior notice “to enable the company to determine whether or not it can supply the revised service without changes to its facilities.”
The gPL said that while the changes to current electricity usage “may seem routine, they can substantially affect the distribution network” and that “over time, transformers become overloaded, resulting in frequent outages or reduced service quality within communities.
“By notifying GPL of planned load increases, the company can assess the impact on the network and take the necessary steps to upgrade or reinforce it as needed,” it added.
Just recently, the GPL announced that it has commissioned more than 30 emergency response teams to be on standby for any emergency that might occur during this Christmas Season.
In recent times, Guyana’s electricity problems have stemmed from an aging, unreliable grid heavily reliant on expensive imported diesel, causing frequent, lengthy blackouts that cripple businesses, disrupt daily life, and hinder economic growth despite the country’s oil boom.
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