GPL explains total shutdowns on Sunday

Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said that on Sunday March 4 it experienced two total generation system shutdowns in Demerara around 00:10 hrs when a Wartsila unit at Garden of Eden experienced an electrical fault and 14:30 hrs as a result of a burnt jumper on one of the main feeders at Sophia.

In a press release GPL said as a result of the faults two frequency converters were affected and a defective part on one of the Wartsila units at the new Kingston Plant caused the machine to be unavailable from 17:00 hrs to 19:30 hrs.

The unavailability of the unit at Garden of Eden and the frequency converter, resulted in load shedding during the evening peak period in some areas of Georgetown. Both machines were returned to service on Sunday evening and all affected customers were subsequently re-powered.

The burnt jumper on the feeder linking Garden of Eden and Versailles plants resulted in interruption of power supply, for approximately three hours from 08:30 hrs, affecting West Demerara consumers.

GPL added that recent high winds, coupled with heavy and persistent rain have led to an increase in network faults and may have compromised some structures. Affected consumers are asked to contact GPL’s emergency call centre on 226-4015 or 226-4016.