The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL areas in eastern and western New Providence experienced power outages yesterday as the Bahamas Electricity Corporation battled a power generation shortfall, officials said yesterday.

BEC Public Relations Manager Arnette Wilson-Ingraham explained that electricity was restored about 15 minutes after the disruptions.

She said there was a possibility of further shortfalls with power creation last night, but it was not expected to affect residential areas.

However, sources at BEC blamed the power failure in the western part of the island on a traffic accident in which a driver ran into a utility pole at Harrold Road.

The accident caused an engine to trip at the Baillou Hills power plant. 

Mrs Ingraham said: “Earlier in the day, several areas throughout New Providence were disrupted because of a generation short fall. Another generator tripped for about five minutes and that caused problems in the west. There might be a generation shortfall tonight, but we don’t expect that residential areas will be affected.”

Despite that reassurance, a number of areas reported power outages last night after a heavy thunderstorm crossed New Providence.

On Friday, a BEC official said massive load shedding was to take place over the weekend and would continue until technicians could repair three engines at the Clifton Pier power plant.

However, corporation officials only confirmed problems with two engines that they said would result in periods of supply interruption to residents on the island.

Power disruptions have been frequent this summer as BEC continuously struggles with electricity generation.

In July, thousands of BEC customers were without power due to BEC’s “generator challenges” at the Baillou Hills plant that interrupted service to more than 50 per cent of New Providence.

The month before, five of BEC’s engines were struck by lightning which caused a widespread loss of power that lasted nearly 12 hours.