The other side of Linden’s electricity crisis

Sep 13, 2026 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

(Kaieteur News) – I am not surprised that electricity demand in Linden has surged by more than 135 per cent from its 2005 level. In fact, given the price at which electricity is supplied there, it would be surprising if demand had not surged.

The figures tell the story. Electricity consumption in Linden was approximately 6 megawatts in 2005. By 2024 it had reached about 12 MW and this year it climbed to between 14 and 14.5 MW, with peak demand recently exceeding 15 MW. That represents an extraordinary increase of more than 135 per cent over the 2005 level. Now consider the price. Linden’s residential and commercial consumers pay an abysmally low tariff. This tariff is a fraction of what is paid by the rest of the country. So when we hear that electricity demand in Linden has exploded, we should not pretend to be mystified.