GUYANA Power & Light (GPL) Inc. reported yesterday that the outages experienced in Demerara on June 7 and 21 were the result of a total shutdown of its 50 hertz system.
In a press release, the utility attributed the situation to a fallen pole on the ‘F2 Feeder’ in the Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara area, where development works were being undertaken by a private concern.
The release said “an excavator pulled down the guy wire stabilising a corner pole” which caused it to fall and another, nearby, to lean dangerously.
That resulted in widespread power cuts which occurred at 11:30 h on June 17 in various areas of Georgetown; on East Coast and East Bank Demerara, the release said.
According to GPL, electricity was restored later that day at approximately 19:00 h.
However, repairs were affected because of the nature of the terrain and the equipment that caused the problem had to assist in transporting materials to the site, the statement explained.
GPL said the area experienced another outage on June 21 when a defective pole fell aback of the International Convention Centre but that problem was rectified later the same evening.