Explosion at GPL’s Good Hope substation triggers power outage along ECD

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) reported that at about 12:04 on Saturday, a loud explosion was heard at the Good Hope Substation, resulting in the facility going offline and causing a system disturbance.

Upon investigation, smoke was observed emanating from the main breaker panel in the switchgear room. The Good Hope Substation is one of our main substations and serves as an interconnection point with the Sophia and Columbia Substations, facilitating the transfer of power between Demerara and Berbice.

As a result of the Good Hope Substation going offline, instability occurred on the grid, causing several other feeders to go offline.

Incremental restoration commenced immediately, and power was restored to affected areas at approximately 13:10h, with the exception of customers from Success to Hope, East Coast Demerara.

Efforts are currently underway to repower customers from Success to Hope, ECD, who are supplied by the Good Hope Substation, using alternative sources.

A technical team of engineers and technicians is conducting a detailed assessment, after which the necessary remedial work will be carried out to resolve the issue at the Good Hope Substation.

The mobile substation, GPL stated, is en route to the Good Hope Substation as a temporary measure until remedial work is completed at the substation.