A new national push to transform the use of electricity in Guyana has been set in motion with a joint initiative by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Guyana Power and Light incorporated (GPL), aimed at reducing demand, lowering costs and strengthening the country’s power grid.
The Demand Side Management (DSM) Programme, unveiled following an inaugural meeting at GPL’s headquarters last week, focuses on encouraging consumers to adopt energy-efficient practices rather than relying solely on expanding electricity generation capacity.
The initiative to optimize the use of electricity in Guyana has been designed to reduce the demand for electricity, prevent grid overload, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Technical teams from both agencies agree that significant gins can be achieved by targeting how electricity is consumed in homes and businesses. Central to the programme is the promotion of energy-efficient appliances, including inverter air conditioners, modern refrigerators, and Energy Star-rated devices, all of which can reduce electricity use without sacrificing comfort.
The programme will also target high demand consumers particularly within the commercial sector through energy audits and assessment. These evaluations are expected to identify inefficiencies, lower operational costs, and allow businesses to reinvest savings into growth and productivity.
Additionally, measures such as power factor correction will be implemented to improve efficiency among large scale users while enhancing overall grid performance. GPL is expected to play a key role in guiding and enforcing standards to ensure compliance among maximum demand customers.
Another major pillar of the DSM programme is the expansion of renewable energy adoption. Home owners and businesses are being encouraged to incorporate energy efficient building designs including improved insulation, air tight construction and efficient windows, alongside renewable solutions such as solar power.
The initiative also promotes the use of grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, allowing consumers to generate their own electricity while remaining connected to the national grid, creating both financial and environmental benefits.
Under the system, consumers who generate their own electricity, known as prosumers, can offset energy costs while contributing to national energy supply. Agreements between GPL and these customers will be formalized through Standard Offer Contracts.
“This is a programme that brings GEA and GPL together and provides a structured approach to developing a sustained and comprehensive demand side management programme,” said Dr Sharma.
The initiative, a release from the agency on Tuesday stated, also aligns with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS 2030), supporting efforts to build a more sustainable, low-carbon energy sector while improving the reliability of the national grid.
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