By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 90 per cent of Bahamas Power and Light’s residential customers in New Providence have been restored to supply, however there are still approximately 8,000 customers without power, BPL said yesterday.

In a press release, the company said it is continuing its “aggressive approach to restoring power to these customers within the shortest possible time.”

BPL said it expects by the weekend the company will be “well above” 90 per cent restoration.

Restoration in the Family Islands is complete, the release said, with the

exception of North and Central Andros where restoration is now above 70 per cent.

BPL explained that there are some areas where the company is experiencing difficulties because of flooding and obstruction of lines by trees, saying these areas will “take some time” to be restored.

In Sanford Drive, Sans Souci, South Beach east and west, Sea Breeze and Imperial Park, BPL said the majority of distribution lines are placed at the rear of residential properties making it difficult for crews to access.

“Some homes are walled or fenced in, also making it harder for crews to carry out repairs,” BPL’s press release said. “Additionally, bucket trucks needed to expedite repairs have difficulty reaching these lines as homeowners have expanded their property on to BPL’s ‘right of way’. BPL also has problems with additional backyard structures and trees - planted by customers - obstructing access to these lines. The company now has to look at less efficient and more time consuming ways of repairing downed poles and lines in these areas.”

At Lumumba Lane, Hanna Road, Marshall Road, St Andrews Beach Estates, Sea Gull Close, Misty Gardens and Yamacraw Beach Estates, BPL said flooding remains a challenge.

“While BPL has made significant progress restoring power to these areas, the impact of flooding remains a challenge. Power cannot be restored generally - in some cases - or to individual properties until Ministry of Works inspectors complete an assessment of the structures and give authorisation that the area can be energised,” the statement said.

“In Yamacraw Beach Estates, flooding not only impacted homes in the area but also BPL’s underground infrastructure. The salt water damaged the underground cables that now need to be repaired. In addition to this being an extremely difficult and time consuming job, the Ministry of Works must also carry out its inspections before the area can be energised.”

BPL also said there are several areas with few or single customers without power and a number of customers whose service wires have been damaged or disconnected from BPL supply.

“If a service mast is damaged, customers must have it repaired privately,” the statement said.

“BPL’s service crews will then reconnect supply wires to the mast. Customers should be aware that due to the high volume of service issues across the island it will take time for crews to complete these types of repairs. In fact, in any restoration effort these are usually the last to complete.”

The company said officials are confident that with the assistance of its CARILEC, PowerSecure, and local contractor teams, full restoration will be achieved very soon.