By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Electricity Corporation’s (BEC) executive chairman yesterday revealed it was exploring the possibility of servicing East End in Grand Bahama, adding that there was “excess” generating capacity in Abaco to do so.

Speaking at a press conference at the Corporation’s headquarters, Mr Miller said: “We have enough generating capacity in Abaco now that we could service all of Eest End, Grand Bahama.

“We’re looking at that because the people in Eest End, Grand Bahama, are raising eternal hell about the charges that they pay the Grand Bahama Power Company, which is much higher than we pay here.

“We have an excess amount amount that is left over from Abaco so we can do that easily.”

The Grand Bahama Power Company, which is just over 80 per cent majority-owned by Canadian energy giant, Emera, currently provides electricity to the entire island of Grand Bahama.

However, Mr Miller noted that over the last five years BEC had spent some $215 million establishing new generation facilities in Abaco, Eleuthera and Bimini.

He added that the Corporation pays Shell West an average of $15-$18 million a month for fuel.

Mr Miller said that for the first time in at least seven years, every engine at the Clifton Power Station was running at full capacity, noting that over $20 million had been spent by the Christie administration since taking office to ensure the engines were running to full capacity.

“The Bahamian people will realise a savings of around $8 million this summer on their electricity bill. The plant at Clifton burns Bunker C, which costs a third less than burning diesel at Blue Hills. Clifton is our base load station,” said Mr Miller.

He added: “What we are looking at with the Government’s approval is trying to put three 42 mega watt engines at Clifton. That’s going to cost us in excess of $200 million. The plan was always to use Blue Hills as a stand-by; when we reach the peak capacity that’s when we would turn Blue Hills on.

“Right now we’re paying $1 million a month to El Greco for electricity. We produce electricity and are buying electricity from a foreign company. We need new engines and more efficient engines, and with that combination you will see your bills go down by approximately 25 per cent. It’s going to take us 30 months to build new engines.”

Mr Miller said BEC was exploring the possibility of purchasing solar panels in bulk out of China to sell to its customers.

“What we are hoping to do, once we can turn the Corporation around and get some cash flow, is to link up with one of the companies out of China and try to get some reasonable solar panels that maybe BEC will purchase in bulk and then sell to our customers, so that they can benefit from it. That’s the future, next year, the year after,” he said.