The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power and Light (BPL) yesterday announced “outage rotations” throughout New Providence as the corporation continues to grapple with “generation challenges” at its power stations.

In one of several statements released yesterday, BPL said customers would experience power outages in two-hour intervals “until further notice”.

Customers were advised to check BPL’s Facebook page for continued updates on the affected areas. At 10.30pm a statement said one engine had been returned to service to provide enough capacity to meet customer demand on the island while repairs were completed on two others.

But a severe thunderstorm which produced lightning strikes then damaged BPL’s transmission and distribution networks, causing further outages in several commmunities across the island.

The company said crews were working through the night to carry out repairs and restore power.

This failure to keep the lights on came months after American company PowerSecure was contracted to take over management at the government-owned utility provider. The new management deal was touted by the government as being the answer to sub-par electricity service and high electricity bills.

“BPL advises its New Providence customers that it is presently experiencing generation challenges at its power stations. As a result, there is insufficient capacity to meet peak customer demand at this time,” the corporation said.

“While efforts are underway to return the affected generator units to service in the shortest possible time, there is presently a generation shortfall. As a result BPL will continue a two hour outage rotation throughout the afternoon ... BPL apologises to its customers and assures them that teams are working quickly to improve generation capacity as soon as possible.”

Customers in the areas of Blue Hill Road north, Coral Harbour, Imperial Park, Soldier Road east of Sea Breeze, Yamacraw Beach Estates, Joe Farrington Road, Prince Charles Drive (from Blanco Bleach to Sea Breeze), Golden Gates 1 and 2, Cordeaux Avenue, Key West Street, Charles Vincent Street, Balfour Avenue, Hay Street, Taylor Street, Milton Street, Lily of the Valley Corner, Ross Corner, Fowler Street and all side streets, were the first to experience the rolling blackouts around noon.

Shortly after 2pm, the electricity supply was then interrupted in the area of the Southwest Plaza, Golden Gates 1 and 2, Cordeaux Avenue, Key West Street, Charles Vincent, Balfour Avenue, Hay Street, Taylor Street, Milton Street, Lily of the Valley, Ross Corner, Fowler Street, Oakes Field, Davis Street, Warren Street, Hawthorne Street, Bernard Road, Adderley Street, Village Road, Eastern Road (to St Anne’s), Westridge, Sea Beach Estates, Sandyport, Delaporte, Blue Hill Road south of Carmichael, and all side streets.

Around 5pm, BPL announced power outages in Elizabeth Estates, Oakes Field, Davis Street, Warren Street, Hawthorne Street, Blue Hill Road (south of Carmichael Road), Coral Harbour, Airport Road West, Solomon’s Plaza, Old Fort Bay, William’s Lane, Kemp Road, White’s Addition and all side streets.

BPL said some customers may experience longer outages and appear on “several lists” because in order to reduce the load “we may have to temporarily turn off supply to some areas that were previously impacted”.

BPL said that the two-hour rotation would continue until generation capacity improves.

Last month, BPL expressed confidence that it would meet peak summer demand while acknowledging that it has been tackling challenges at its Clifton Pier Power Station.