GPL removes over 55 illegal connections along Soesdyke Highway

The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) on Wednesday removed more than 55 illegal electricity connections during an enforcement exercise at Kuru Kuru College Road, Soesdyke Highway.

The exercise was conducted by GPL’s Loss Reduction Department and covered 32 pole spans, as the utility continues efforts to reduce electricity theft and other commercial losses affecting its distribution network.
According to GPL, several persons were also warned to desist from illegally connecting to the utility’s network.
The latest exercise comes as GPL continues to grapple with losses estimated at between 13 and 15 per cent, with each one per cent representing more than $200 million in lost revenue, according to figures provided by GPL officials during a recent press conference.
GPL Chief Executive Officer Kesh Nandlall said the utility has been conducting enforcement exercises along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and surrounding communities to address illegal connections and other issues affecting the reliability of electricity services.
He explained that illegal connections can affect the quality and reliability of electricity in communities because persons often connect to the network improperly. Such connections can also cause feeders to trip and contribute to service disruptions.
GPL Divisional Director of Engineering Services Ryan Ross previously said electricity theft forms part of the utility’s commercial losses, which, together with technical losses, account for about 13 to 15 per cent of the company’s total losses.
Ross said one per cent of losses was, based on the last calculation, valued at approximately $200 million.
GPL said illegal connections can overload the electricity network, damage critical infrastructure, contribute to power disruptions and create risks of electrocution and electrical fires.
The utility reiterated that electricity theft is a criminal offence and said it will continue conducting loss-reduction exercises in communities across Guyana to identify and remove illegal connections.
Members of the public have also been urged to report illegal electricity connections through GPL’s confidential hotlines at 226-2600 and 0475, or via WhatsApp at 699-4882.