BREAKING NEWS: Lightning strike knocks out power - BEC expects supply to be restored by noon

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) has blamed lightning strikes for widespread power outages in New Providence early this morning.

BEC Executive Chairman Leslie Miller told The Tribune that several arrestors and transformers were hit by lightning during a thunderstorm shortly before 8am.

As a result, several areas in eastern, southern and northern New Providence experienced outages, he said.

Mr Miller said the corporation expected full power restoration by noon. However, he said because the system is unpredictable “anything can happen”.

“Lightning hit the Blue Hills Power station and caused the engines to trip,” Mr Miller said. “The power went out from Gladstone Road, all the way to the eastern portion of the island. High-tension wires and three of the major transformers that connect Blue Hills to Clifton were also hit. That should not have happened; once again it is a result of neglect. If lightning erectors were installed none of this would have happened, but for some reason they didn’t put them on.

“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.”

Landlines and cell phone services were also knocked out by the power outage but those services were restored by 9am.

Comments

asiseeit says...

Why does this happen in Nassau ALL the time? How come it does not seem to happen elsewhere? Could it be that BEC is a "special" case? Does BEC need to ride on the "short bus"?

Posted 9 July 2015, 12:09 p.m. Suggest removal

Cobalt says...

The Bahamas needs to ride on the short bus!

Posted 9 July 2015, 12:14 p.m. Suggest removal

Cobalt says...

Excuses upon excuses! That's all our government and Leslie Miller can offer.

Posted 9 July 2015, 12:23 p.m. Suggest removal

Cobalt says...

"When the foreigners come in, they will make sure things are done," huh?

I swear..... The Bahamas is one big embarrassment! A bunch of dumb black people relying on the ingenuity of the white man to come and save them. What a slave mentality to have. Smh

Posted 9 July 2015, 12:26 p.m. Suggest removal

shortpants says...

@cobalt
A bunch of dumb black people,then i guess you are White/black ass .Stop beating everyone with your black stick .

Posted 9 July 2015, 12:36 p.m. Suggest removal

TruthHurts says...

And you are exactly THAT to which Cobalt is referring to. It is an embarrassment any fool can see that.

Posted 9 July 2015, 12:43 p.m. Suggest removal

Cobalt says...

I'm guessing that my post hurt your feelings. But like the smart, intelligent person's user name above mine states........ the TruthHurts.

Posted 9 July 2015, 1:17 p.m. Suggest removal

asiseeit says...

What else is BEC except DUMB. They most certainly can not profess to be smart, reliable, efficient, cost effective, good for The Bahamas, a driver of our economy or anything resembling a positive to the country. BEC is one of the main nooses around the neck of The Bahamas, nothing more nothing less. What more would one expect from a government corporation?

Posted 9 July 2015, 1:32 p.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

Just more evidence that the Christie-led PLP government failed to meet its commitments and undertakings to the Baha Mar developers that an adequate and reliable supply of electrical power would be available at reasonable cost to the development well ahead of its scheduled completion date.

Posted 9 July 2015, 2:54 p.m. Suggest removal

realfreethinker says...

What happen to the power source deal that was suppose to have been signed weeks ago?

Posted 9 July 2015, 3:36 p.m. Suggest removal

asiseeit says...

Same as everything this government is dealing with, DELAYED, STALLED, OR SHELVED! The only one's they pushed through was their numbers and stem cell laws, that was the big money. We see you.

Posted 10 July 2015, 9:40 a.m. Suggest removal

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