The Tribune

BAHAMAS Power and Light (BPL) has blamed damaged engine components, faulty wiring and problems with rental generators for repeated electricity outages in Eleuthera, as the company apologised to residents and outlined plans to improve the island’s power supply by 2027.

In a statement yesterday, BPL acknowledged the disruption caused by outages between October 5 and 12, which affected households and businesses across the island.

The company said several mechanical and electrical problems had occurred at the Hatchet Bay Power Station, including damage to parts of one of its main generating engines.

During repairs, technicians also discovered a damaged wire that was causing the engine to shut down unexpectedly.

BPL said the fault was particularly difficult to identify because the engine would sometimes restart and operate normally before shutting down again.

Problems with several rental generators further disrupted electricity production, compounding the challenges facing the island's power supply.

According to BPL, technical teams from Eleuthera, New Providence and Abaco worked together to identify and resolve the problems. Damaged engine components and wiring have since been repaired or replaced, while adjustments were made to the rental generators.

During the repair period, the company said it distributed available electricity among affected communities whenever possible to provide temporary relief.

BPL said the repairs had addressed the identified faults, but acknowledged that longer-term improvements were necessary to reduce the island's dependence on ageing equipment.The company announced that independent power producer EA Energy is expected to install 20 megawatts of natural gas generation capacity before summer 2027.

The new engines are intended to provide a more dependable electricity supply and reduce reliance on older generating units and rental equipment.

A separate solar power plant is also being developed at the Hatchet Bay Power Station, with completion anticipated in early 2027.

The project is expected to add 8.7 megawatts of solar generation capacity, supported by battery storage to help stabilise electricity supply.

BPL said the combination of natural gas generation, solar energy and battery storage would provide a more resilient system, with gas engines supplying continuous electricity, solar generation reducing daytime fuel consumption and batteries helping to maintain stability.

BPL chief operating officer Anthony Christie acknowledged residents' frustration over the repeated disruptions and said the company was committed to delivering lasting improvements.

"We know the people of Eleuthera are tired of repeated power outages, and we understand their frustration. Our teams have worked hard to fix the recent problems, but our responsibility doesn't end there," Mr Christie said.

"We are bringing new power generation to Eleuthera because our customers deserve reliable electricity. Our focus is on fewer outages, faster repairs and better service for every community on the island."

BPL thanked residents for their patience and said technical teams would continue monitoring the electricity system while the longer-term upgrades progress.