BEC seeks to buy or lease six new generators

As of Tuesday, September 16, 2014

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

A TEAM of engineers from the Bahamas Electricity Corporation is in Florida today to purchase or lease six new generators for the New Providence and Family Islands, the corporation’s Executive Chairman Leslie Miller said yesterday.

Speaking with the press, Mr Miller said in direct response to the continuous blackouts and power outages in New Providence and throughout the Family Islands this summer, BEC is “looking at some generators” to purchase and add to the fleet.

“We are sending a team to Florida tomorrow (Tuesday), to take a look at those engines and we are going to make a quick decision with purchasing or leasing those engines,” he said.

“We are looking at six of them. A team is being dispatched and we are going to look at them and see if they can fit into the arsenal we have for those engines in New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Long Island. We will see if it is a good deal, then look at it with the ability to have those engines here shortly.”

Mr Miller declined to comment on how much the engines would cost but said they would be “worth every penny.”

He also said the all the engines at Clifton Pier and Blue Hills are back running at full capacity “so we have no problems and I see no blackouts in the foreseeable future.”

“We are in good shape as far as generating from Blue Hills and Clifton, excellent shape. If you notice, from last Thursday it has gotten cooler and we are having better weather right now so we are in excellent shape. Let’s just pray we stay that way.”

BEC has been plagued with power outages for several months. Mr Miller said this is the “worst he has ever seen it.”

Earlier this month he said that without a new power plant, which will cost about $200m, the country will continue to be plagued by outages that will worsen when Baha Mar, the mega resort at Cable Beach, is added to the grid next year.

More like this story

TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2014…

The_Messenger 10 years, 1 month ago

Next week's headline: "BEC customers should expect to see yet another increase on their power bills".

GrassRoot 10 years, 1 month ago

I wonder why someone has to travel to Miami to start an RFP for generators. Oh, no RFP? I understand.

whybahamas 10 years, 1 month ago

Is this article accurate? Why do we need a new generator in Abaco?

asiseeit 10 years, 1 month ago

Abaco just got a whole new plant, right? I thought their problem was the transmission lines. Big question, are they maybe thinking of an alternative fuel or a dual fuel engine? Being that fuel is their #1 cost maybe that would be something to look into.

clawdad 10 years, 1 month ago

why we need new generators in abaco.they dun break them rest up that why

John 10 years, 1 month ago

Before investing in new equipment BEC needs to do a forensic audit to determine where all its revenue is going. Start by switching out the meters of some of its unionised employees and moniter the differences in the bills. Where there are large increases take those persons to court for meter tampering. Then you will also realize that not all the blackouts were the result of equipment or transmission failures.