Network problems caused weekend outages – GPL

A string of power outages that swept through several areas across the country over the weekend and also disrupted water supply in Berbice was owing to network problems and not generator shortages, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said yesterday.

Incidents ranging from transmission lines tripping to a damaged electrical pole affected the company’s supply to various areas, according to a statement from GPL, but it said that power supply to the affected areas would be restored before the day (yesterday) ended.

The company said that its Demerara Interconnected System (DIS) suffered a total shutdown early Monday morning when the Garden of Eden-Sophia (L1) transmission lined tripped, and while engineers were working on it a second shutdown occurred, but power was eventually restored. However, the Liliendaal to Success (F2) feeder tripped within minutes and upon inspection, it was discovered that there were three broken cross-arms on three different structures in the Sophia area; the structures carry power from Liliendaal to Coldigen. GPL said that the feeders had to be de-energised to be replaced, adding that there was a number of damaged switches on the feeder that also had to replace.

According to the company, a tractor at Foulis, West Coast Berbice knocked down a pole on Saturday last which affected customers in the Foulis and Belladrum areas, but the pole was subsequently replaced and power was restored. GPL said that the feeder from Onverwagt started to trip and resulted in various sub-areas being de-energised and inspected. This resulted in power being cut from Belladrum to Calcutta.
GPL pointed to the disruption of the water supply at Berbice noting that voltage difference due to long distances of transmitting power from Skeldon to Onverwagt compounded the problem.

The company said that its current problems are largely due to transmission and distribution problems on its network and not generation shortages except in Berbice where it pointed out that capacity is very close to evening peak demand resulting in intermitting outages in some areas. But the company noted that it is expecting its Canefield Mirrlees 5 MW unit to be back in service by next week.
GPL is urging consumers to be patient as they work to rectify the problems.