As blackout headache continues, new boss appointed to head GPL

Jamaican Albert Gordon has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) and has began work at the utility company that has frustrated customers due to constant and prolonged blackouts.

According to a statement from the power company, the CEO’s appointment forms part of GPL’s plans to modernize, expand and improve electricity supply in support of the development of Guyana.

Gordon, who has over thirty years of experience in planning, development and operation of electric, water and sewerage utilities, took up the post on Thursday, February 01, 2018.

GPL had been without a CEO since February 2016 when then CEO Colin Welch was fired.

Mr. Gordon’s experience, GPL said, began and developed at Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), Jamaica’s sole electricity provider. At JPS his work included generation and transmission system planning, economic and financial analysis of projects and development of Public Private Partnerships. Additionally, his work included assisting in the development of the energy policy and strategy for private sector participation in the power sector and negotiation of Build, Own and Operate (BOO) contracts in the electricity sector in Jamaica.

Following his 11 years of service at JPS, Gordon was invited to lend his expertise and support to the National Water Commission (NWC), Jamaica’s water and sewerage utility. At the NWC, Mr. Gordon’s served as the Vice President Corporate and Strategic Planning, Vice President, Project Administration and later as President of NWC.

His professional career is said to have continued to grow and expand after he joined the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) serving as Director General.

Under his tenure, OUR improved its efficiencies and quality practices, and attained ISO 9001-2008 certification for its Quality Management System (QMS). At the OUR, Mr. Gordon led the development of over 80 MW of renewable energy; 20 MW from solar and over 60 MW from wind, on a BOO basis. Additionally, under his tenure OUR successfully procured an additional 37 MW solar photovoltaic plant on a BOO basis. His experience in renewable energy will serve GPL well in the Company’s current pursuits of green energy, which forms part of Guyana’s National Development Strategy.

Mr. Gordon’s extensive professional career is supported by his academic accomplishments. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, a Bachelors of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and a Certificate in Energy Planning and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. His specialized training includes Power Generation System Planning, Energy System Modeling and Utility Tariff Setting.

His theoretical and practical knowledge of Utilities will be of great value to GPL and Guyana.