Dear Editor,
Given the size and character of the demand for electricity in the present day, it is clear that the burden on GPL is unreasonable. In just a few years, the demand for power is set to further outstrip GPL’s capabilities. All the while, the existing mode of power production leaves us vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of a fuel source that has probably surpassed its potential life-cycle in the story of civilization.
Might it be time to consider re-conceptualizing and reorganizing the grid? What if, in some future Guyana, GPL becomes solely a transmission provider of high voltage? What if GPL is the provider whose primary function is to collect over the “big power” sources? What if GPL is to bring high voltage power to localised distributors? Localised distributors then take on the burden of distribution – installation, maintenance, billing and customer service – while GPL focuses on large scale infrastructure and shipping power to sub-divided, optimizing localities.
Is it reasonable to imagine an optimal number of localised power distributors that serve communities and zones, efficiently distributing power at scales suited to the demands of the localities?
With a greater respect for the ancient principle of modularity (which provides the basis for efficient extensibility), might we be able to overcome the limitations of having GPL bear the tremendous burden of transmission, distribution and everything in between?
Sincerely,
Emille Giddings