GPL outages unacceptable- President Ali
September 14 2026
-Government pushes major grid upgrade
President Dr Irfaan Ali has acknowledged growing frustration over electricity outages across Guyana, describing some disruptions as unacceptable while outlining billions of dollars in investments aimed at modernising and strengthening the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) network.
Speaking at a press conference today, Ali said the government recognises the need for a more reliable electricity system capable of meeting the country’s rapidly increasing demand.
An InterEnergy assessment cited by the President shows that peak demand on the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System increased from approximately 205 megawatts in 2024 to 242.6 megawatts in August 2026, representing an increase of about 18 percent.
Demand is projected to increase by approximately 138 percent by 2029, while more than 62,000 additional customers are expected to connect to the grid as new homes, businesses and industries come on stream.
To meet the anticipated demand, more than 360 kilometres of new high-voltage transmission lines are being constructed, along with more than 10 new substations. Four existing substations are also being expanded, while two mobile substations and a 36-megawatt battery storage system form part of the wider upgrade programme.
The President said the challenges facing the electricity system are significant but maintained that sustained investment is necessary to deliver the more reliable and predictable power supply expected by Guyanese.
Government is also investing in smart meters, grid digitisation and additional generating capacity. The Gas-to-Energy Project is expected to further strengthen the country’s electricity generation capacity.
Despite the ongoing investments, Ali said the government understands the impact of outages on households and businesses and acknowledged that some disruptions are unacceptable.
He also pointed to measures being taken to shield consumers from higher electricity costs, noting that increases in the price of imported fuel used by GPL have not been passed on to customers.
