‘Don’t connect your excess power to grid unless we are informed’ –GPL advises

Feb 04, 2018 News

GPL is warning customers that it is illegal to attempt to send extra power produced to the national grid without first making an official application.

The state-owned Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is warning businesses and others not to take it upon themselves to send extra power they are producing back into the national grid.
There have been recent complains that despite a posture by the government for independent power producers to send excess power to GPL, and benefit for the reversing of their meters, the bureaucracy has been discouraging.
On Friday, GPL in a public advisory, titled ‘Solar Energy Installations/Grid-Tie’, made it clear that it has embraced the Government of Guyana’s vision for a ‘green’ state and the associated benefits to the company and to the country.
However, it is evident that many customers have also embraced the ‘green’ vision without full knowledge of the requirements that must be satisfied for intended installations that will allow excess energy to penetrate GPL’s network.
A number of producers have been complaining of the long wait for paperwork and even the special meter that is needed that will allow the excess power to flow into the national grid.
The advisory said that GPL has established Interim Technical Guidelines for these installations which can be found on its website at http://gplinc.net/renewable-energy.
Customers desirous of establishing an interconnection agreement with GPL must formally submit a request for interconnection of electricity from solar installations with GPL’s network to the Divisional Director- Customer Services at the company’s Main Street, Georgetown office.
“These photovoltaic (PV)/Solar Installations must be compliant with the National Electric Code 2014 (NEC) particularly (but not limited to) Article 690 and Article 705, and be certified by the Government Electrical Inspectorate. Further, all interconnection equipment (invertors, charge controllers, etc.) must confirm with IEEE 1547 Standard and be listed under the UL 1741 Standards. GPL has compiled these requirements in our Interim Interconnection Requirements, which can be found on our website at the abovementioned URL,” GPL advised.
Customers are asked to note that at this time the maximum allowed installation on a customer’s premises will be based on their demand, subject to a limit of 100kwp (peak power).
“Customers can determine the size of installation that would be allowed by using our calculator, which can be found on our website at the abovementioned URL.”
In addition, GPL said it will conduct an interconnection evaluation in order to ensure that prospective customers can be safely integrated with the company’s distribution network.
“That is to avoid any possible technical, safety and/or security issues that can result from non-compliant connections to the distribution network. GPL wished to remind all interested customers that it is illegal; and unsafe to establish unauthorized interconnections with the company’s distribution network. If you connect to GPL’s grid without permission it can be dangerous for your neighbours and GPL crews, and furthermore it may destabilise the normal electricity supply in your area.”
Solar and wind power are becoming increasingly popular with prices for panels reportedly going down.

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