…company moves to save $300MBy Leonard GildarieThe country’s power company has embarked on a hectic programme to fully convert its electricity system to meet international standards, with current works ongoing in the city and huge savings expected to be made.According to Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), the conversion from the antiquated 50hertz frequency to the standard 60hertz will bring down the company’s operating costs by an estimated $300M annually once the old converters are phased out.Chief Executive Officer,Wholesale China Jerseys, Bharat Dindyal, updating the media on the exercise which started last month, explained that it is a necessary project with the current converters operating on a lifeline and working overtime. Bharrat DindyalWith the US and other major makers of electrical products dealing with the 60hertz frequency,Cheap Jerseys USA, the problem lies in that fact that GPL is being forced to use its converters to facilitate a number of locals using the old products.An estimated 27 megawatts (mw) or one-third of the electricity being produced in Guyana daily, has to be converted. Many homes and businesses continue to hang on to old,Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China, faithful equipment, putting a strain on GPL’s already old converters.Already, a crucial converter at the Kingston site has been retired and phased works have commenced in parts of the city to adjust the current electrical system to work with the planned 60hertz or a dual 50-60hertz.Also at the press conference on Friday at the GPL’s Kingston office were Elwyn Marshall, Divisional Director of Operations and Godfrey Bellamy, Networks Operations Manager.This week,Cheap MLB Jerseys, GPL is targeting the Lacytown area along Robb Street, Regent Street, Charlotte and Croal Streets and the Stabroek Market area.According to Dindyal, one of the immediate problems found was that many of the commercial businesses with their own generators had transfer switches that needed to be reprogrammed to work with the settings of the 60hertz system.GPL’s work to correct this and associated problems have nothing to do with supply.Dindyal stressed that with the installation of the new system, equipment can be expected to work better but consumers may see increased consumption on bills although this would not be significant.Responding to questions on 50 hertz meters, he said that these would not be affected. As a matter of fact, tests have proven that these particular meters may under-read the consumption. GPL may very well have to replace these meters.Responding to questions on the need to buy more Wartsila generators as was recently announced by President Bharrat Jagdeo, the CEO pointed out that the company, while it has sufficient power, an estimated 88mw,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, is moving to ensure it has reliable capacity.Currently, almost one-third of the power being generated in Guyana is from old engines or what he described as suspect capacity.Jagdeo recently hinted that GPL may be spending US$20M to buy more Wartsila engines. This was confirmed by the power company.With current demands fueled by new housing schemes and commercial businesses,China Jerseys Cheap, there is definitely more need for a stable system.With demands growing by about nine per cent every year, Guyana has to install some seven megawatts more every year if it is to keep ahead with demand.A US$40M Chinese-funded project to upgrade the country’s transmission lines is also likely to fuel more demands for power especially along the coastland, he disclosed.