The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS from Bahamas Electricity Corporation have said “damaged wires” were to blame for power outages experienced in the eastern section of New Providence yesterday.

According to BEC’s Executive Chairman Leslie Miller, a backhoe operator attempting to dig a trench at the Blue Hills power station accidentally severed some “essential wires”.

Subsequently, Mr Miller said the damage to the wires resulted in the failure of one of the station’s engines and half of the company’s rental units.

“Once the wires were damaged, the engine tripped resulting in half of our rental units failing,” said Mr Miller.

“There was a major imbalance in the frequencies and the power went down in the eastern part of the island and a section of Wulff Road.”

Mr Miller indicated that technicians were able to restore power to the affected areas within the hour.

“We apologise for the occurrence but those things happen. We responded and got the matter dealt with as quick as possible,” he added.

There have been a number of blackouts in New Providence this year.

Earlier this month, BEC blamed lightning strikes for massive power outages that affected residents in several areas in eastern, southern and northern New Providence.

At that time, Mr Miller contended that incoming management company, Power Secure would aid BEC with details he claimed, were often “neglected.”

“This is where Power Secure will come in handy. Things like this that are neglected, they will fix. When the foreigners come in, they will make sure things are done,” he claimed.

The government announced that it had selected the US-based company as BEC’s new operating partner in May.