Another excavator knocks out power across Demerara

June 1 2026

An excavator operator has once again been blamed for damaging critical power infrastructure, resulting in electricity disruptions across sections of Demerara on Monday.

According to the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), the incident occurred at approximately 10:11 hrs when an excavator operated by Raju Singh of Avinash Contracting and Scrapmetal Inc. came into contact with the company’s L4 Transmission Line, which links the Golden Grove and Sophia substations.

GPL said the impact damaged key transmission infrastructure and triggered a service interruption affecting numerous customers in parts of Demerara.

Technical teams were immediately dispatched to the location to assess the extent of the damage and begin restoration works aimed at returning power to affected areas as quickly and safely as possible.

The utility company has since launched an investigation into the incident and indicated that it intends to pursue legal action against both the contractor and the excavator operator to recover the costs associated with the damage.

GPL also renewed its call for contractors and heavy-duty equipment operators to coordinate with the company before conducting excavation or construction activities near power lines and other electrical infrastructure.

The company warned that unauthorized operations near its network can damage critical national assets, disrupt power supply to thousands of customers, and create significant public safety hazards.

GPL apologized for the inconvenience caused and thanked customers for their patience while restoration efforts continue.