GPL says labour, network challenges made some targets unreachable – PUC 

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) failed to meet the majority of its performance targets for 2025, according to a review conducted by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Friday.

During the Commission’s annual assessment of GPL’s Operating Standards and Performance Targets (OSPT), the power company reported that it missed six of the eight required service standards.

The standards not achieved include:

• Customer interruptions
• Meter reading
• Accounts receivable
• Accounts payable
• System losses
• Issuance of bills for non-maximum demand customers

These benchmarks form part of GPL’s Development and Expansion Programme 2025–2029 and represent the minimum service levels expected in electricity delivery.

Despite the setbacks, GPL reported that it met and exceeded targets in two key areas:

• Voltage regulation
• Average availability of electricity

These gains point to improvements in power stability and supply consistency, even as broader operational challenges persist.

GPL attributed its underperformance to several ongoing challenges, including:

• Difficulty sourcing skilled labour
• External interference with its network
• Frequent feeder trips affecting distribution

The company indicated that these issues continue to impact its ability to consistently meet service standards.

The review, held at Herdmanston Lodge, forms part of the Commission’s legal mandate under GPL’s licence, which requires an annual assessment of the company’s performance by March 30.

Chairman of the PUC, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, said the Commission will issue its official findings and any directives in a formal Order by April 30, 2026.

The OSPT framework assesses critical areas such as outages, billing, and system efficiency—issues that directly affect consumers nationwide.

The hearing was attended by PUC Commissioners Maurice Solomon and Verlyn Klass, along with members of the public and media.

Consumers can access additional details via the PUC’s website at www.puc.org.gy or contact the Commission at 226-7042 / 227-2182.