Guyana unveiled its Demand Side Management (DSM) Action Plan this week, a strategic document mapping out how the country can better manage electricity demand so that available energy adequately powers households, organisations and industries.
Earlier this week, the plan was formally presented to Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips on Wednesday by Kesh Nandlall, Team Leader of Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated, and Dr Mahender Sharma, CEO of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), in the presence of Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar.
The plan targets energy savings of 516 gigawatt-hours (GWh) — a 20 percent reduction — by 2030, based on projected electricity generation of 2,508 GWh. It sets out ten priority initiatives across five sectors: residential, office buildings, commercial establishments, industrial, and community services, to be rolled out over five years.
The initiatives include upgrades to distribution lines, the rollout of smart and/or pre-paid meters by 2030, energy-efficiency retrofits for public buildings, labelling and promotion of energy-efficient appliances, energy audits for large consumers, energy-efficient street lighting, and the expansion of rooftop solar and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The changes range from simple switches — like using appliances that require less electricity — to broader national ventures like the construction of electric vehicle charging stations across the country.
PM Phillips said the Action Plan comes at a critical time, as Guyana's rapid economic growth continues to drive increased electricity demand. He noted that while the Government continues to expand electricity generation through transitional energy and greater use of renewables, responsible electricity use remains important to ensuring consumers benefit fully from lower energy costs.
He also highlighted the role of households in the country's changing energy landscape, encouraging citizens to participate more actively in energy generation and conservation.
"One of the big points here is that the average household is now being encouraged to become what you call a prosumer, a provider and a consumer of energy at the same time.
"If you have solar panels on your home, it means that you could help to satisfy your need, and the excess becomes an incentive for you, because the excess goes to the grid and you can get credits," Phillips said.
Minister Indar welcomed the plan, noting that managing electricity demand can help reduce unnecessary pressure on generation infrastructure and support a more balanced approach to generation, conservation, and long-term cost management.
Chairman of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, Anthony Whyte, commented on the plan after it was unveiled.
"Oil revenue is financing rapid buildout of generation capacity, but this signals the government also recognises that managing the demand side is cheaper and faster than building your way out of every capacity gap.
"Worth watching whether the meter rollout and audit requirements actually get enforced on the timeline laid out, since that's typically where these plans succeed or stall," he said in a LinkedIn post.
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