As it grapples with a reported increase in electricity demand, the Guyana Power and Light(GPL) has announced that it intends to increase its generating capacity by five megawatts by Wednesday, as it explores other options for sourcing additional power.

Head of GPL’s Management Committee, Kesh Nandlall, made the disclosure on Monday at a press conference.

“We have 265.6 megawatts available right now. By Wednesday, we will have another 5 megawatts which will be 270 megawatts. We are seeing the peak averaging around 250 megawatts to 255 megawatts. So, the generation is currently there, and we are also looking at additional generation options right now,” Nandlall told reporters.

According to Nandlall, an increase in the load on the national grid is responsible for the recent spate of power outages. At the start of September, electricity demand peaked at 257 megawatts.

GPL’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Bharat Harjohn, explained that while the power company is able to meet the current demand, it does not have a “spinning reserve” or extra generating capacity.

“We are right now experiencing a very high demand and our generation is just there, just enough to meet that demand at this time, we don’t have the spinning reserve in the system. So, the spinning reserve is what helps us to deal with any fluctuation. So, if our demand is 200, we will run from a generation side to 227 megawatts. Why the additional 27 megawatts, because 27 is our spinning reserve and that spinning reserve comes from our largest unit, one and a half times the largest unit, so if there is a generator trip in the system, we have that spinning reserve that would deal with that issue. But because we are just neck by neck right now to meet our demand, we don’t have the spinning reserve,” the Deputy CEO explained.

GPL’s Divisional Director, Ryan Ross, said to address the electricity supply problems, the power company is investing heavily in reliable infrastructure with major focus on the supply and distribution.

“We are currently expending approximately US$800 million, US$800 million in projects, GPL is currently undertaking and this essentially covers from Goedverwagting all across the eastern corridor of the grid heading as far as the No. 53 Village. We are building out 230KV lines, this is much higher specification because of the power demand,” he explained.

Eight new substations are currently being built in addition to four that are undergoing upgrades.

Mr. Ross said in addition to 69KV lines, approximately 350 km of medium-voltage distribution network is being built as part of the US$800 million investment plan.

The 350 km of medium-voltage distribution network is expected to address the power distribution issues.

In the interim, the power company is urging its more than 250,000 consumers to conserve on their electricity use.

Last month, the Government rolled out a series of conservation measures to reduce electricity consumption in the country.

It instructed that all lights and AC units in Government buildings be switched off when not use, and for he high-intensity LED floodlights at community grounds across the country to be turned off during peak periods.

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