Region Two now back to frequent power outage

Feb 02, 2018 News

The three new Caterpillar generators at the Anna Regina Power Plant. (second generator from left is one of the old ones).

The blackout woes seem to be back on the Essequibo Coast, as frequent power outages continue to plague the region.
Residents claim that the service provided by the Guyana Power and Light [GPL], has seen little or no improvement since the start of the New Year.
At the moment, residents have no choice but to cope with these frequent blackouts, which continue to plague the Essequibo Coast both day and night. As was related to this publication, a series of communities would simultaneously experience a power outage.
These power outages would sometimes last as long as one hour every day, in various communities.
During the course of last year, Region Two suffered tremendously at the hands of GPL- one community was even left without electricity for as long as five days. At that time, GPL claimed that both Caterpillar engines, which were installed at the company’s Anna Regina Plant, were severely worn. During the latter part of last year, the company acquired three brand new additional Caterpillar generators.
The then Chairman of the GPL board, Robert Badal, said that these generators were to once and for all, put an end to blackouts on the Essequibo Coast.
The reality today, however, is that blackout still persists on the Essequibo Coast. Residents are bitter that they are not even provided with a power outage schedule. It is believed that the power outage is somewhat linked to an upgrade in the Region’s power grid.
Residents are thus appealing that GPL pay careful attention to their present upgrade, and the possible side effects. Some claim that following the recent upgrade of the power grid [from the 50 hertz to 60 hertz], many electrical appliances have lost their lives. Multiple individuals had related to this publication, that specific appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators are no longer in a workable state.
Some have even been moved to replace the ballast of their florescent lamps. All efforts made by this publication to contact the company’s public relations officer, Ms. Shavian Pierce, proved futile.