By NICO SCAVELLA
BAHAMAS Electricity Corporation spokesperson Arnette Ingraham said yesterday that the company is currently “doing its best” to maintain electricity supply to the country with “an aging fleet of engines.”
Ms Ingraham told The Tribune that she hopes Bahamians are more understanding of the corporation’s technical problems that have ultimately led to a number of power outages over the past few months.
“There’s any number of issues that can lead to outages, and for us we have an aging fleet and that’s difficult for people to understand, and we self-produce our electricity here – we’re not on any network,” she said.
“But the engines are not the only thing. We have transmission problems, underground cables, all of those things can result in an outage. So we’re trying to keep our network in a flawless state and that’s very difficult at this time.”
Last week Mrs Ingraham had expressed optimism in the corporation’s power generation network, optimism that was short lived as less than a day later three power outages left eastern, western and southern New Providence without power during a span of 10 hours.
She attributed the power outages to “generation challenges” and admitted to the corporation having problems with its distribution network.
On July 3, residents in New Providence were plunged into total darkness due to an island wide blackout that lasted for nearly 12 hours.
However, she said yesterday that what most people do not understand is that as an island nation the Bahamas not only generates its own power, but operates independently of a network, unlike countries like the United States or Canada.
“They (US and Canada) can source electricity from other companies,” she said. “They have a whole grid network. So if some generator goes down they can get generation from another plant. They have more money and they have better maintenance schedules.
“If there’s another source, for example, Florida Power and Light they have a network where they can get power from. If our big 26 megawatt engine goes down what else are we going to rely on?”
Ms Ingraham indicated that BEC is still committed to minimising “the frequency of outages for customers in Nassau and the Family Islands.” She also stressed that the corporation was in no way “making excuses” for its troubles thus far.
“The reality of the situation is that when your power is off you don’t care what the situation is,” she said. “We are beholden to our customers because without them the corporation wouldn’t exist. We know that we have our challenges, but we are working hard to resolve them.”
Comments
realfreethinker 10 years, 4 months ago
So now that they really cant keep the power on,the chairman has gone silent ? hmmmm. As long as government holds on to bec you will continue to have these problems.
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
So much for they Pot cake Chairman's many confident no more lights out promises. Comrades can you believe that in less than just a week's time, BEC's ambition to keep the lights on in peoples homes and businesses have fallen victim to their own helplessness. I shall delay the purchase of me new chandelier.
John 10 years, 4 months ago
MAYBE BEC needs to allow some of its larger consumers to use their generators for several hours during peak periods to help with load shedding. ALso is Nassau over illuminated? True there is a crime problem and people are afraid (of the dark) but if you drive around the island at night some homes have as much as 20 out door lights burning all night and some businesses are light up inside and out all night. CONSERVATioN
Cobalt 10 years, 4 months ago
"Use their generators for several hours during peak periods???" Why??? So that we can give Frankie Wilson and all of his other PLP cronies from FOCAL more of our gas money???
Politicians benefit from crime because the majority of them are crooked lawyers! Politicians also benefit from BECs incompetence because a lot of them have shares in FOCAL gasoline! They're all just cheating and robbing the Bahamian people blind!!
John 10 years, 4 months ago
So what suggestion do you have to give the Bahamian people relief from the constant and annoying blackouts in the heat of summer? Anyone can come here and rant and rave about everything and make unsubstantiated accusations about everyone. Then there is reality.
Cobalt 10 years, 4 months ago
That's just the problem John! There is no relief! Bahamians have been reduced and confined to a life of misery and hopelessness while our sworn leaders, in a gross betrayal of the public trust, remain an ineffective, inefficient, unaccountable, dishonest lot. These are not "unsubstantiated claims!" Look around you John! You don't have to be a genius in order to discern the fruits of corrupt practices! BEC is in the state that it's in due to mismanagement, dishonesty, and fraudulent practices.... and it doesn't appear to be an end in sight.
While there may not exist any quick solutions for these blackout, my long term suggestion is that we Bahamians place our money where our mouth is! In a united effort to rid this country of the PLP and FNM (for how long? it depends), let us use our financial resources to support a consortium of honorable men and women that are experienced and qualified enough (no matter what that may be) to govern our country! Based upon independent studies and civic observations, we have established that this is indeed possible! And that's reality! If we are really serious about saving what's left of the Bahamas, then we must sacrifice what we have in order to establish another government for the future of the Bahamas! Do away with the practices of the old guard and establish something effective, efficient, and new! That's my suggestion.
sansoucireader 10 years, 4 months ago
Yes, why are all the lights on, especially in government buildings like schools and the Elizabeth Estates post-office?
Sickened 10 years, 4 months ago
I need to keep my sensors and automatic gun turrets on 24hrs.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
BEC has to be privatized ...................... good point that crime has affected the amount of electricity used for illumination, air conditioning (due to fear of open windows and doors), dryers (fear of being outside) and entertainment (due to fear of being in public spaces).
And yes ........................................... this is a sign that Potcake has been overwhelmed at BEC.
BSObserver 10 years, 4 months ago
A week or so ago Mr. Miller reported that be was about ready to report to the Bahamian people, based on a report that was soon to be ready from the consultants that BEC brought in.
Did he make the reported report and I missed it? Or has he now delegated that function to a middle manager?
John 10 years, 4 months ago
The union members and employees have raped b BEC over the years of all its cash in the form of high salaries overly generous benefits and unlimited overtime. There is no money to do the necessary upgrades and maintenace to BEC's plant. Where do we go from here?
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
None unionized workers can only hope and pray when their contract is up for renewal they will get to keep their paychecks ongoing. Not so with unionized workers, who have been sold on the false idea by their union leaders, that just because your contract is up for renewal, as a union worker you are somehow entitled to liberal pay increases and more generous benefits, longer vacation time and shorter weekly working hours. Comrades its not a "right" or any union worker to think , not only are they entitled to more pay for your regular and overtime hours but the employer ain't even allowed to make their own decision, if your spoiled union ass is even worth it?
kairosmatt 10 years, 4 months ago
It ain't the old equipment, its the old corporation.
On Abaco, we have 4 of the (according to BEC's town meeting) 'most advanced engines ever.' And yet we lose power in Abaco EVERY SINGLE DAY.
So 'an aging fleet of engines' is an excuse. You could spend a billion dollars upgrading Nassau but because of the same management, the same labour, and the same political BS you would be having blackouts again within a year.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
So true ...................... political mismanagement .............. cronyism .......... kickbacks
mostsickandtired 10 years, 4 months ago
why should the public 'have understanding' when the lights go out, when BEC doesn't 'have understanding' when they charge us these exorbitant amounts for electricity, increase the surcharge, and blowout your appliances with these power surges and drops? Get it together BEC, NO ONE has 'understanding' for yall...
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
Sorry, I can't be understanding. For forty years the government has used these utility corporations as employment for dummies from their campaign offices. While there are some technocrats and other productive individuals at the corporation, the dummies always get in the way. And don't let the dummy have a senior position! That generally spells doom because you can't make sensible recommendations to them, cuz "who do you think you are? You better learn how to play the game"
Forty years of dummies throwing big parties and driving around in new company cars and fighting to get a good office and parking spot. Forty years of this foolishness to finally recognize today, oh our equipment is aging...gee
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
This is the reality in MOST of the government corporations and departments ........... BEC doesn't have a monopoly on dummies..................... BOL
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
Yeah I hear BTC catch the DummyGunYuh too, they getting all swell up now...all kinda promotion an ting...
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