GPL is currently operating its electricity system with virtually no reserve capacity to respond to unexpected disruptions.
Harjohn said "We are experiencing a very high demand, and our generation is just there; just enough to meet that demand at this time." Harjohn said "We don’t have the spinning reserve in the system." Harjohn said "Because we are just neck by neck right now to meet our demand, we don’t have the spinning reserve. So you experience some of these kinds of unstable situations."
Peak demand increased from 221 megawatts last year to 257 megawatts on September 1. GPL currently has 265.6 megawatts of generation available, leaving the utility without the spinning reserve needed to absorb fluctuations. The September 1 peak came within approximately 8.6 megawatts of the available capacity.
Demand typically peaks between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Most of GPL’s feeders are currently tripping because of overloading conditions.
GPL has replaced approximately 5,000 transformers in recent years. The number of GPL customers has grown from 201,791 in 2020 to approximately 250,000 currently.
First power from the Gas-to-Energy project is expected to become available by the end of this year. Full power from the Gas-to-Energy project is expected by June 2027.
The major infrastructure programme is estimated at approximately US$800 million and includes approximately 350 kilometres of new distribution network. Shaun Hamlet said GPL is currently constructing eight new substations across Demerara and Berbice while upgrading another four.
GPL has increased its generating capacity by approximately 230 megawatts between 2020 and 2026. GPL is expected to add another five megawatts by tomorrow. GPL’s total technical and commercial losses currently remain at approximately 25 percent of total generation.
The company has been instructed to implement a smart grid by 2030.
