Electricity sector in Guyana
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The electricity sector in Guyana is dominated by Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the state-owned vertically integrated utility. Although the country has a large potential for hydroelectric and bagasse-fueled power generation, most of its 226 MW of installed capacity correspond to thermoelectric diesel-engine driven generators.
This article needs to be updated. (February 2021) |
Quick Facts Data, Installed capacity (2007) ...
Data | |
---|---|
Electricity coverage | 60% (total); (LAC total average in 2007: 92%) |
Installed capacity (2007) | 226MW |
Share of fossil energy | ~100% |
Share of renewable energy | 0% |
GHG emissions from electricity generation (2005) | 1.58 Mt CO2 |
Average electricity use (2007) | ~1,080kWh per capita |
Distribution losses (2007) | ~40%; (LAC average in 2005: 13.6%) |
Consumption by sector (% of total) | |
Residential | 42.2% |
Industrial | 31.8% |
Tariffs and financing | |
Average residential tariff (US$/kW·h, 2008) | 0.246-0.273; (LAC average in 2005: 0.115) |
Average industrial tariff (US$/kW·h, 2008) | 0.276-0.320; (LAC average in 2005: 0.107) |
Average commercial tariff (US$/kW·h, 2008) | 0.355 |
Services | |
Sector unbundling | No |
Share of private sector in generation | 45% |
Competitive supply to large users | No |
Competitive supply to residential users | No |
Institutions | |
No. of service providers | 3 (generation), 1 (transmission, distribution) |
Responsibility for regulation | Public Utilities Commission (PUC) |
Responsibility for policy-setting | Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) |
Responsibility for the environment | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
Electricity sector law | Yes (1994) |
Renewable energy law | No |
CDM transactions related to the electricity sector | 1 registered CDM projects, 44,733 t CO2e annual emissions reductions |
Close
Reliability or electricity supply is very low, linked both to technical and institutional deficiencies in the sector, with total losses close to 40% and commercial losses of about 30%. This low reliability has led most firms to install their own diesel generators, which in turn leads to higher than average electricity costs.