Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has assured that Guyana currently has adequate electricity generation to meet demand on the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), despite record consumption placing increased pressure on the transmission and distribution network.
Phillips made the statement on Friday during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, where he was joined by Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar and senior officials of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL).
The Prime Minister said unusually hot and dry conditions associated with the prevailing El Niño weather pattern have driven electricity consumption to unprecedented levels.
“We are enduring an unusual dry season, the temperature is a bit high, no rainfall or little rainfall during this period and the demand for energy, especially electricity, will normally go up. So, we have reached an unusual peak in demand for electricity, and that unusual peak has caused us to devise a plan to ensure the reliable supply of electricity, and also, at the same time, creating the necessary reserves, to not only provide for households but also for the business sector, the industrial sector.”
Peak demand on the DBIS reached a record 242.64 megawatts (MW) this week, compared with 221 MW in 2025.
Minister Indar said the system currently has approximately 256 MW of reliable generation, placing available generation above the current peak demand.
He explained that some power interruptions are being caused by increased electricity flows through sections of the network, where feeders, cables and other infrastructure are approaching their thermal limits. This can cause protective systems to trip and temporarily interrupt supply.
Government, through GPL, has begun interventions to redistribute electricity across feeders, strengthen substations and expand transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Demand is projected to reach approximately 266 MW during August, September and October, driven by hotter weather, new housing developments and increased commercial and industrial activity.
GPL’s customer base has grown from approximately 204,000 in 2020 to 250,000 in 2026, while electricity demand has also increased significantly.
Government is also working to boost generation and maintain adequate reserves. A 9.3 MW generating unit at Garden of Eden is expected to return to service by Monday, increasing available generation to approximately 265 MW.
Minister Indar said further generation is expected from the return of a 4.5 MW Hyundai unit, another 5.5 MW generating unit currently undergoing a major overhaul, and an additional 5 MW from the power ships before the end of August.
Government is targeting approximately 280 MW of available generation by the end of August.
As part of its immediate response, Government has also approved conservation measures aimed at reducing demand during peak periods.
Ministries and agencies will be required to switch off lights, air-conditioning units and other non-essential equipment when buildings are not in use. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will also ensure that high-intensity floodlights at community grounds are switched off when the facilities are not being utilised.
Large commercial and industrial consumers with self-generating capacity have been engaged to temporarily come off the national grid between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm, when demand peaks.
Households and businesses are also being encouraged to minimise unnecessary electricity consumption while the unusually hot conditions persist.
The press conference also addressed electricity supply in Region Ten, which Minister Indar identified as the only area currently experiencing an actual generation shortfall.
Peak demand in Linden has reached approximately 15.1 MW, compared with about 14.1 MW of available generation from BOSAI. The increase has been partly attributed to growing economic activity, including the presence of approximately 32 sawmills.
