Concept of the Integrated Utility Service
The concept of the IUS was birthed from a regional CARICOM-GIZ study that was conducted between 2016-2017. This study highlighted opportunities for utility companies to become involved in distributed generation through the IUS Model. The study further continued with a phase two in Barbados to examine the market and environmental conditions required there for a successful pilot. Based on the positive outcomes of phases 1 and 2, phase 3 was launched to rollout the IUS in 4 utility companies in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Belize.
IUS Country Highlights
The GPL Integrated Utility Service (IUS) Pilot Programme was developed in cooperation with the CARICOM Secretariat and the GIZ-implemented TAPSEC Programme, building upon best practices of utilities around the world and the outcomes of earlier phases in the region. The programme addresses the barriers to energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption by individuals and companies in Guyana by enabling GPL to provide affordable financing for customer Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) projects, with convenient customer repayment through the utility monthly bill. The pilot programme aims to demonstrate that the IUS model approach is well-suited to reducing customer energy costs, GPL Grid operation costs and advancing national clean energy goals.
Subsequently, GPL embarked on their first two demonstration projects with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Organization of American States (OAS), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) on April 10th, 2019. This MOU serves as GPL’s first two customer demonstration projects to supply and install two Grid Connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems on MOA’s roof.
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