DRUNK driving was the result of a major Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) system failure last evening across the Counties of Demerara and Berbice.However, quick response by GPL officials in isolating the source of the problem on the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System facilitated the restoration of power within two hours.

GPL Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ash Deonarine, in an invited comment, told the Guyana Chronicle late last night that the intoxicated driver of a canter slammed into a 69,000-volt transmission pole at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
He added that the restoration of the electricity to users on GPL’s grid was done in phases.
This is not the first such incident to affect the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System. In the latter part of February, a vehicular collision in the wee hours of the morning in the vicinity of Avenue of the Republic and North Road caused infrastructural damage to the network in the area.
The impact of the vehicle when it came into contact with the pole caused two high-voltage transmission lines to short-circuit, resulting in the tripping of engines at the Kingston (58MW) and Vreed-en-Hoop (26MW) power plants, with a total loss of 84MW. The loss of these engines resulted in a total shutdown in the Demerara and Berbice Interconnected System.
Preceding years have witnessed similar incidences, whereby careless use of the roadways have resulted in minor and major damages to our network, and immense inconveniences.
In light of this morning’s incident, we renew our call for prudence when traversing the roadways. (Vanessa Narine)