ELECTRICITY supply for the community of Mahdia, Potaro, has encountered a number of logistical problems to meet demand amidst protest by residents in Sub-District Two. A source close to Mahdia Power & Light (MPL) told the Guyana Chronicle that the company had created a big fuel debt to a local supplier and the transportation cost to the generating station, which varies, has also become a factor to reckon.
The source further noted that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), which has 64 buildings in the district, had paid, on average, up to December 2012, some $2M per month.
But, after installing consumer meters on all the premises, the local authority pays just about $300,000 monthly.
That reduced the estimated payment by the RDC which now consumes minimal electrical power and the amount received from other residents is not sufficient to maximise the generator load since it operates at around 45 percent.
This newspaper was told that one of the two generator sets needs 150 barrels of diesel to operate for 36 days and the larger of the two requires 180 barrels to provide 24 hours power to the grid.
The MPL is hoping that the respective agencies responsible can bring a suitable remedy to the current situation.
The utility was established some three years ago to make electricity available to residents of Mahdia and its surrounding communities, after it was previously supplied by private businessman Mr. Roger Hinds.
Under the present circumstances, the Mahdia Regional Hospital has been one of the major entities without electrical power.