…major consumers switch to self-generation during peak hours
…as Govt rolls out plan to conserve power, stabilise system
The current El Niño conditions, coupled with a growing customer base, have driven up electricity demand across Guyana, forcing the Government to implement a series of measures to not only enhance the power supply, but also conserve electricity and stabilise the aged national grid system.
One of those interventions is having large consumers across the country be removed from the national grid during peak hours, when demand is high. Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar explained that though these large customers have self-generating capacity, which is costly due to the soaring fuel prices, they are on the national grid to capitalise on the subsidised rates.
“During those two hours from 07:00h to 21:00h, we’re asking them to come off the grid. And it’s only three customers; we’ve asked to stabilise voltage – two in Berbice and one on the East Bank [of Demerara],” Indar noted during a press conference on Friday.
“The problem that you have is voltage levels at different points in the grid, where they have big customers that are using massive amounts [of power], and…the [transmission] lines can’t take the amount of power that is demanded in the area, so it trips. So, people get three to four [power] outages during the peak period.”
Those three consumers that have agreed to come off the grid during peak hours utilise a combined total of approximately three megawatts (MW).
Head of the Executive Management Committee at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc., Kesh Nandlall, added during Friday’s press conference that they are assessing the high-demand areas, and where necessary, they will similarly remove large consumers there during the peak hours in order to stabilise the aged-grid system.
“But we do have a list, and we’re planning it based on the demand right now…in specific areas,” Nandlall stated.
Generation capacity
Meanwhile, Indar went on to assure that GPL has adequate generation capacity to meet the growing demand across the country. Currently, there is a generation capacity of 256MW, while peak demand is at 242.64MW – a record high and an increase from last year’s 221MW.
According to Indar, “…the increase is due to one, the weather, the hotness of the temperature, increased housing expansion in the country, commercial operations, as well as industrial customers.”
But with demand projected to further grow over the coming months to some 266MW, GPL has already put systems in place to increase generation to approximately 280MW by the end of August.
Nevertheless, the Public Utilities Minister pointed out that all the regions across Guyana have excess generation capacity except Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), where power is being supplied by bauxite company Bosai Minerals Group.
While Bosai generates some 14.1MW, heightened industrial activities across Linden have pushed peak demand to over 15MW. In fact, Indar noted that there has been increased sawmill operations in Linden, which have added pressure on the region’s electricity system.
Sawmill operations
Region 10 currently has about 32 sawmills operators, utilising equipment such as Wood Mizer and high-speed motors, thus placing significant demand on the grid. As a result, the Government has engaged the sawmill owners to shift their operations to off-peak hours so as to ease the burden on the system.
“So, Linden has two peak periods. During the day between one to three pm, and then in the night as well, between seven to nine, there is another peak…[when] the demand spikes to a higher level. So, [the sawmill operators have] been asked to work between 22:00h to 06:00h… and it wouldn’t tax the grid further than it is already overtaxed, at this point,” Indar noted.
Some of those sawmill operators have already agreed to this arrangement, while Minister Indar and the GPL Head, along with Guyana Forestry Commission Commissioner Edward Goberdhan and Chief Executive Officer of Hinterland Electrification Company Inc Horace Williams engaged the others on Friday to follow suit.
Those discussions also focused on additional generation capacity for the region, and better coordination of commercial electricity use.
Conservation measures
But even as the Government moves to boost generation capacity and stabilise power in light of the growing power demand, it has rolled out a series of conservation interventions ahead of the hottest months.
Only recently, the Guyana Hydrometeorological Service advised the public to prepare for strengthened El Niño conditions from August through October 2026, that will bring hotter-than-normal temperatures, prolonged dry spells, and up to 80 hot spell days instead of the usual 30.
To this end, the Cabinet has taken a number of decisions to enhance conservation efforts, especially at the various Government Ministries and state agencies, where enforcement steps would be taken to ensure unused power is shut off outside of office hours.
Similarly, households and businesses are also being asked to conserve power during this high demand period; turning off lights, appliances, and equipment that are not in use.
Additionally, community sport grounds across the country will be monitored to ensure that floodlights are off when activities are not being held.
“So, we’re asking the general public to just be aware that we have a hot season [and] the grid is taxed at this point – it’s literally at the highest on record. And so, we’re asking the general public to look into conservancy initiatives. Anything they can do in the households and the businesses to reduce their own bill and by reducing their own bill, they will reduce the demand on the grid,” Minister Indar posited.
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