2 grid failures trigger power outages across Demerara, Berbice

…outages possible despite sufficient power capacity – Ministry

The Public Utilities and Aviation Ministry has engaged Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) following two power outages that affected customers in Demerara and Berbice on December 9 and December 10.
According to information released by the Ministry, the first outage occurred on Tuesday, December 9, at about 22:06h. The interruption was caused by heavy arching and a short circuit at the 69kV transformer at the Kingston Substation. Smoke was observed coming from the transformer panel, prompting the immediate dispatch of a technical team to investigate the incident.

Preliminary findings indicated that the disturbance was linked to a damaged cable. According to the Ministry, as a precaution, the affected cable was isolated to allow for safe restoration of electricity. GPL began restoring power incrementally, with service fully returned to all affected areas by approximately 00:30h on Wednesday.
A second outage was recorded later Wednesday morning at about 11:19h when the 69 kV transmission line connecting the Edinburgh and Vreed-en-Hoop Substations tripped while carrying roughly 15 megawatts (MW) of power. The sudden loss triggered a cascading effect across the grid, leading to service disruptions in both Demerara and Berbice.
Technical teams were again deployed to determine the cause of the disruption. Investigations revealed that the incident resulted from the movement of heavy machinery in close proximity to the transmission lines. Power was restored to some communities within 30 minutes, with full restoration completed within approximately 90 minutes.
The Ministry stated that it continues to work closely with GPL to maintain a stable and reliable electricity supply nationwide. GPL currently has more than 250 MW of reliable baseload generating capacity, which exceeds the present demand of approximately 210 MW.
However, the Ministry noted that despite sufficient generating capacity, service disruptions can occur due to external factors, including the operation of heavy-duty equipment such as excavators, cranes, draglines, and cement pump trucks near transmission infrastructure. In recent times, there has also been an increase in incidents involving trucks, cars, and other motor vehicles coming into contact with GPL’s network, resulting in outages affecting thousands of customers.
The Ministry has urged all road users, equipment operators, and contractors to exercise caution when operating near GPL infrastructure, warning that unsafe practices can lead to service interruptions and pose significant risks.
To strengthen response efforts, the Ministry, in collaboration with GPL, has commissioned more than 30 emergency teams across the country to address power-related emergencies as they arise.