Numerous power outages caused by unsafe kite flying - GPL/TITLE> <script language="JavaScript" SRC="gyj11.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" SRC="gyj12.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" SRC="gyj13.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" SRC="../gynews.js"></SCRIPT> </HEAD> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> Numerous power outages caused by unsafe kite flying - GPL <br> Albouystown 60 Hertz conversion to be speeded up </H3> </CENTER> <br> <font face="arial" size="2"> <FONT COLOR="yellow" SIZE="+1"><a href="http://www.stabroeknews.com">Stabroek News</a></FONT><br> April 5, 2002<br> <hr> <table> <tr> <td><b><i>Related Links:</i></b></td> <td align = "right"><a href="../gycelebrations.htm"><b>Articles on celebrations</b></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="../gyltwrite.html"><b>Letters Menu</b></a></td> <td align="right"><a href="../gyextend.htm"><b>Archival Menu</b></a></td> </tr> </table> <hr> <P> <B> Despite numerous warnings and pleas to customers to ensure that children did not fly kites under or near power poles and cables, Easter this year still brought with it numerous incidents that caused electricity outages in several areas. <br><br> Many of the line faults that occurred originated from attempts to retrieve kites that became entangled with cables, according to a press release from Guyana Power & Light (GPL). <br><br> GPL had issued several warnings about the likely effects of power cables coming into contact with each other. <br><br> In Georgetown, the release stated, the most serious casualty of the Easter kite-flying season to date has been the sub-station located on Albert Street, Albouystown. The unit sustained severe damage over the weekend that was the direct consequence of several incidents occurring in East and North East La Penitence, and Albouystown which involved burst power lines and blown fuses. <br><br> Damage to the sub-station is extensive and ordinarily would require a lengthy period to repair. However, GPL is mindful of the extended hours of power interruption such an exercise would entail, so the company will instead introduce a more viable alternative. As it was already planned to convert the frequency of power fed to that area from 50 Hertz (4 kV) to 60 Hertz (13.8 kV), a decision was taken on Wednesday to fast-track this project and begin the exercise immediately. New poles, transformers and large capacity/diameter cables were to be mobilised for the start of the project and it is expected to be completed within two weeks, the release said. <br><br> Ordinarily, exercises of this nature and magnitude require at least five weeks to complete, but GPL said it is not willing to have its customers in Albouystown, East and North East La Penitence and a section of Charlestown suffer the inconvenience of nightly load shedding while being connected, along with a number of other wards, to the general supply line in that area. Instead, the release informed, a tight schedule is now being mapped out to accommodate the conversion exercise. <br><br> The power company said that it had taken note over the past few weeks of reports of low voltage made by customers in the La Penitence wards, particularly the one from the East La Penitence Primary School where their new computers remain idle. The original decision to convert the area during the second quarter of the year from 50 Hertz to the more reliable 60 Hertz frequency was partly influenced by the situation at the school. According to the release, everything would be done to ensure that this conversion exercise is completed in as short a time as possible. </b> </FONT> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <SCRIPT src="lospfoot.js"></SCRIPT><P> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </blockquote> </BODY> </HTML>