More 8-hour power outages for Georgetown, ECD

Several communities within Georgetown and on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) are bracing themselves for more eight-hour power outages.
The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) in a notice to the public said that it will commence another three days of maintenance work.
The utility company stated that the activities will commence on Tuesday, October 8, at Brickdam, Georgetown, to Golden Grove, North of Railway Embankment, ECD.
Meanwhile, Oronoque Street, Queenstown, and environs, Ketley Street, Charles Street, Lyng Street, House Street and Sussex Street will experience maintenance works on October 10, 2019, as well La Bonne Intention (LBI), ECD.
Consumers were advised that the works will be undertaken from 08:00h to 16:00h on each day.
Only last month the company had announced its recommitment of buying power as they continued to suffer from the challenges of providing reliable electricity, but GPL has since admitted that it cannot purchase power from any private company due to its existing licence, which it plans to amend. There was a subsequent announcement that the company found a loophole in the legislation which will allow them to purchase power until the legislative issues have been resolved.
The power company has come in for much criticism for the unreliable service. Also, according to the Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) Annual Report for 2018, the power company has failed to improve its services in accordance with performance targets previously set out.
The PUC also received some 248 complaints against the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc.
The highest complaints against GPL were received from Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Meanwhile, one project that would have assisted the Guyana Power and Light in getting adequate electricity supply was the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, which the coalition Government continually blocked while controlling the National Assembly by a one-seat Opposition majority.
The Norway-funded project, when completed, would have provided 165 megawatts to the national grid, thus providing cheaper and more reliable power to citizens and businesses.