—says transmission line was inspected less than 24 hours before widespread electricity disruption

THE Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has raised serious concerns about possible sabotage of the national electricity network following a major transmission line trip on Friday morning that triggered widespread power outages.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the power company said it suspects that deliberate interference with its critical infrastructure might have caused the disruption, which affected homes, businesses and essential services across its network.
According to GPL, the L2 Transmission Line, which runs parallel to the L4 Transmission Line between the Grove and Sophia Substations, tripped at approximately 08:12 hrs, resulting in a significant loss of electricity supply to the grid.
The company disclosed that the transmission line had been inspected on Thursday, October 29, less than 24 hours before the incident, and was found to be free of faults and vegetation.
However, Friday morning’s disturbance was traced to an earth fault on the C-phase conductor, the lowest of the three conductors and the one closest to the ground.
GPL said its technical teams subsequently conducted extensive inspections along the transmission line but found no vegetation, physical damage or other conditions that could explain the incident.
“The facts are clear. The L2 line was inspected on October 29, 2026, less than 24 hours earlier, and was found free of faults and vegetation,” the company stated.
It further asserted, “A line that is clean one day does not fail on its most accessible conductor the next without cause. GPL believes this points to deliberate interference.”
While the suspected sabotage has not yet been established, GPL said the circumstances surrounding the incident warrant a full investigation.
The company condemned any attempt to interfere with the national electricity network, warning that such actions could have severe consequences for public safety and the country’s electricity supply.
“Such acts are reckless and dangerous. They endanger lives, including the lives of those who carry them out. They also disrupt homes, businesses, hospitals and essential services across Guyana,” GPL stated.
The power company made it clear that interference with its infrastructure would not be tolerated and pledged to pursue the matter through the appropriate authorities.
“GPL will not tolerate interference with its infrastructure. The company is pursuing a full investigation and will hand over any evidence of unlawful activity to the relevant authorities, so that those responsible can be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement added.
As part of its response, GPL announced that it is strengthening surveillance and security measures around critical transmission infrastructure to safeguard the national electricity network against potential interference.
The company also appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities near transmission lines, towers and substations to GPL or the nearest police station.
Meanwhile, GPL said its technical teams have been working diligently to restore electricity to affected customers and thanked the public for its patience and understanding.