GPL urges customers to conserve as demand for electricity reaches new heights

Over the past few months, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has recorded the “highest ever” electricity generation and demand in the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) and the company is urging its customers to do more to conserve energy.

The utility company made the call in a recently published notice.

“The company recorded a peak demand of 182 Megawatts (MW) compared to 154 MW for the corresponding period last year,” GPL disclosed in the notice.

The increase, according to the company, can be attributed to the increasingly high temperatures experienced in recent months as well as the growth in the housing and commercial sector.

“The rise in temperature has led to heightened use of air conditioning units and fans. In some instances, AC units and fans are left on in homes and businesses that are unoccupied, resulting in unnecessary energy wastage,” GPL noted.

To address the situation, GPL is urging its customers to adopt “conscientious” electricity conservation practices.

This, according to GPL, can include adhering to practices such as unplugging appliances that are not in use, utilizing LED light and scheduling laundry and ironing.

“Factories, manufacturers and other large customers should manage their production schedules efficiently to conserve electricity,” GPL said.

The company said they will continue to monitor the situation.