BEC foresees no power disruptions this week

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a small percentage of Bahamas Electricity Corporation customers were left without power on Monday, officials predicted yesterday that residents in New Providence will not experience any disruptions to services as the week progresses.

However, BEC spokesperson Arnette Ingraham explained that while the corporation did not foresee any issues with their power generation network, she cautioned that any number of unforeseen challenges could cause temporary interruptions.

Ms Ingraham said: “Right now, at this very moment we are optimistic that it (electricity disruption) won’t happen because as it stands moving forward we don’t foresee any issues on our power generation network.

“But things happen. There could be any number of issues. Someone could hit a pole, there could be issues at the substation or lightning could strike. Right now we believe that we have sufficient capacity to meet the demand right now.”

BEC issued a statement on Monday night advising customers that they were experiencing challenges on its generation network. Officials said electricity was fully restored by 1am yesterday and that none of the affected areas were without power for more than two hours.

At the time, BEC said: “Teams are presently working to resolve the problem and expect that there will be full restoration within the next four to five hours. Until that time, a small number of customers in New Providence may experience short periods of supply interruption.

“BEC notes that approximately 10 per cent of its customers in New Providence would be impacted by the outage. The corporation sincerely apologises to its customers and ensures them that its teams are working aggressively to restore supply in the shortest possible time.”

On Friday, the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) experienced a brief stint of darkness after an engine at the Blue Hills power station tripped. That issue also left areas, including Fire Trail, Carmichael Road, East Street South, Pinewood Gardens, Market and Palmetto Streets, Marshall Road, Sea Breeze and Imperial Park without power.

That power outage came after thousands of BEC customers were left without electricity for more than eight hours last Monday because of “generator challenges” at the Blue Hills plant. It interrupted the supply to 50 per cent of customers in eastern, western and some parts of central New Providence.

Comments

watcher says...

Sorry, but they didn't get the memo in my area. We had blackouts from about 3.30 am to 5.00 am this morning (Aug 6th) I know because I woke up sweating and the alarm clock was flashing the time it restarted.

Posted 6 August 2014, 9:32 a.m. Suggest removal

sansoucireader says...

Power out from 12:05am-4:00am this morning, August 6th. A restless, sleepless night here in the east. Wish BEC would stop making announcements that the power will not go out, because as soon as they do--something breaks down. Oh, I did call BEC around 2:30am and heard the recorded message above. Left my phone number and they have called twice this morning to see if the power is back on.

Posted 6 August 2014, 9:54 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Power out last night AGAIN

Posted 6 August 2014, 10:06 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

The BEC Executive Chairman needs to fire the General Manager since the BEC Minister responsible wouldnot fire the Chairman and the Prime Minister cannot override the Minister ........... but someone needs to get fired .............. fire the workers and start from scratch with high school graduates ................or put fire to the BEC plant .............. just do something!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 6 August 2014, 10:11 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

I say fire the PM and DPM, all parliament and start over. That's the root of the problem. Look at the grass and weeds shooting up on every street corner, the threat of an illegal monetary system threatening our economy. This clownish bumbling isn't limited to BEC

Posted 6 August 2014, 10:37 a.m. Suggest removal

asiseeit says...

It is not April 1st. why is the Tribune giving us a story that is obviously a joke? On a serious note how about doing a story on how much the incompetence of BEC is COSTING the country? How much money is spent on generators, fuel, upkeep, lost productivity, and the like. Has to be in the MILLIONS. BEC is a drag on the Bahamas,, there is no doubt about that! Another GOVERNMENT FAIL, red and yellow.

Posted 6 August 2014, 10:20 a.m. Suggest removal

digimagination says...

I see - so now BEC is in the prediction business. Maybe, just maybe, they should stand outside the main office holding placards similar to those predicting 'The end of the world is near' - and that may just happen before BEC gets its act together!

Posted 6 August 2014, 11:13 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Oh-oh, I hear thunder.... Everybody charge up your battery powered devices now, you have about 1/2 hour max.

Posted 6 August 2014, 11:39 a.m. Suggest removal

ChefSmith says...

my light is usually off everyday.........it may seem like and over statement , but as anyone that live in Ridgeland Park west or is connected to that corridor

Posted 6 August 2014, 12:28 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

General, are you saying you were in darkness too???

Posted 6 August 2014, 2:47 p.m. Suggest removal

Cobalt says...

Really??? I thought it was just your brain.

Posted 6 August 2014, 4:43 p.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

BEC couldn't foresee a cat 5 hurricane....STFU

Posted 6 August 2014, 9:31 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrades has BEC's excuse department simply ran out of lousy excuses or changing its tune, considering the thousand of times lights have suddenly gone-off, the disruptions have all been attributed to generator blowups here and there or lately the generators had ran out fuel? So, now they can predict how BEC's old generators will run for next week? Isn't there anything this government will not put a spin on?

Posted 6 August 2014, 9:32 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

This is what happens when there are too many hands in the cookie jar. Money that should go to capital development, plant maintenance and upgrade ends up in the pockets of individuals then when the company falls apart and its plant is in shambles everyone cry foul and expect miracles.

Posted 7 August 2014, 10:17 a.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

I fear that it is now time for a revolution.

Posted 7 August 2014, 11:07 a.m. Suggest removal

Required says...

May I suggest that the Tribune refuse to print stories about BEC officials, whatever their capacity, claiming that there'd be no more power outages? If you need to fill newspaper space, I can send over my neighbour's toddler, and let him play with the keyboard to produce some random gibberish instead.

Posted 7 August 2014, 11:54 a.m. Suggest removal

HolandObserver says...

lies! lies! lies!

Posted 7 August 2014, 2:25 p.m. Suggest removal

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