Eligible pensioners across Guyana will begin receiving a $30,000 electricity subsidy on their Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) bills starting this month, according to Minister within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
Providing an update on Thursday, Persaud said the credit will be applied directly to the GPL accounts of qualifying senior citizens whose electricity accounts are registered in their names.
“So, on your June bill, you will see the credits to the value of $30,000 featured on your GPL bill,” the minister stated.
The subsidy forms part of a broader government initiative aimed at providing financial relief to pensioners amid continued concerns about the cost of living.
However, Persaud clarified that only pensioners who hold GPL accounts in their own names will qualify for the electricity credit. Senior citizens who do not have a GPL account registered in their names will not be eligible to benefit from the programme.
The minister advised eligible pensioners to examine their June bills carefully and to contact GPL if the subsidy is not reflected.
“If the credit does not reflect on the June 2026 bill, eligible persons should visit the nearest GPL office to address the matter,” she said.
Persaud also reminded pensioners that the government’s water subsidy programme remains in effect and is already being applied to qualifying beneficiaries’ water bills. She urged recipients to review those bills to ensure they are receiving the benefit.
The electricity and water subsidies are among several measures introduced by the government to provide assistance to senior citizens. In recent years, the administration has also increased old-age pensions and implemented various relief programmes aimed at easing the financial burden on vulnerable groups.
The announcement comes at a time when many households continue to grapple with rising living costs, making utility subsidies an important source of support for pensioners living on fixed incomes.
Government officials have maintained that the assistance programmes are intended to help improve the quality of life of senior citizens and provide additional financial security in retirement.
