Guyana to implement electricity tax for large companies on GPL grid

DPI – Guyana Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said the administration will implement a program to charge businesses that use a lot of electricity, especially during peak hours.

Dr Jagdeo made the news at the West Central Mall’s grand opening on Friday in Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

The vice president clarified that because the government has been subsidizing electricity bills, which has resulted in the over-peaking of electricity usage, huge electrical consumers who were previously self-generating are now reconnecting to the national grid.

The situation is made worse by the high temperatures that are currently being experienced, which has increased the need for fans and air conditioners.

Given that we only have 174 megawatts of built capacity and our demand is 180 megawatts in a single night, the vice president said, “You have, of necessity, to take some people off the grid.”

The vice president criticized the previous administration of the APNU+AFC Coalition for failing to spend enough in the energy industry, citing the cancellation of the 165-megawatt Amaila Falls hydropower plant as evidence. He noted that this has caused the recent wave of blackouts to worsen.

He claimed the opposition did not make additional capacity investments between 2015 and 2020.

In this context, the vice president also declared that the Guyana government plans to invest an extra 30 megawatts of electricity-producing capacity before the year ends.

The 300-megawatt Wales gas-to-energy project, which is scheduled to begin operations next year, was mentioned by Dr Jagdeo. It is anticipated to enhance electricity availability while also lowering expenses significantly.