GPL losing billion$ to electricity theft; police asked to arrest, charge persons

Last Updated on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 16:43 by Written By Denis Chabrol

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is losing more than GY$3 billion annually to the theft of electricity, and the power company has since asked the police to catch the thieves as part of an ongoing crackdown.

GPL’s Divisional Director of Engineering Services Ryan Ross told a news conference on Monday that of the 24 overall losses, 13 to 15 percent is commercial losses from the diversion or theft of electricity and the remainder is technical losses.

“It’s in excess of $200 million for 1 percent. The last time this was calculated is about GY$200 million- a million U.S. dollars for 1 percent,” he said. 

Extrapolated, that means GPL is losing another GY$1.8 billion on technical losses from transformers and transmission lines totalling about nine percent.

In recent weeks, GPL has been cracking down on illegal electricity connections but so far there has been no word of anyone having been charged with an offence.

Executive leader of the power company, Kesh Nandlall said he has since written Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken seeking help to arrest and charge electricity thieves. “We will go out there and prosecute people now,” he said.