BEC Chairman Leslie Miller
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A "fire in the trenches" at the Blue Hills power station caused a massive power outage across New Providence on Friday afternoon, Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) chairman Leslie Miller has confirmed. And he warned customers to expect disruption in supply until Sunday.
Mr Miller said it was unlikely that the corporation would have sufficient power to carry most of New Providence on Friday evening. As a result, he said BEC has requested "all the major food stores, Super Value, and the hotels to use their generators so that we can feed our regular household customers so they can be comfortable over the weekend."
Some businesses shut and turned away customers and at least one bank closed its doors because of the power cuts.
He refuted rumours that the huge blackout was due to mega resort Baha Mar "testing" its facilities.
"This has nothing to do with Baha Mar, absolutely nothing at all," Mr Miller told The Tribune.
Mr Miller explained that a fire errupted on a main line in a trench at the Blue Hills plant, subsequently spreading to about seven other cables in the trench.
Officials said the fire - which started around 2pm - caused a "total system shutdown" impacting generator units at both the Blue Hills and Clifton Pier power stations. As a result, New Providence experienced an electrical shutdown between 2 and 3pm and supply is expected to be disrupted this evening.
With the help of the Royal Bahamas Police Force's fire department, BEC crews were able to extinguish the fire.
The statement said that the corporation has begun restoring service to an "initial group of customers including essential services like the Princess Margaret Hospital."
"At approximately 4.30pm, two engines - one at Clifton Pier and the other at Blue Hills Power Station -were returned to service," a BEC statement said. "At this time restoration efforts continue and attempts are being made to return additional units to service."
The statement added: "An assessment is underway at Blue Hills Power Station to determine the extent of the damage; however, BEC officials are confident that they will be able to return several of the generator units not impacted by the fire to service. BEC crews are also gradually restarting units at the Clifton Pier Power Station in its effort to begin providing electricity to its customers.
"It is unclear when total system restoration will take place; however, additional updates will follow throughout the evening."
Meanwhile, Mr Miller said changing the damaged wires would probably "take us all of the weekend," with some load shedding to be experienced by residents until Sunday.
"We have to isolate those lines to see which line runs to which generators, then we have to change all those lines," he said. "Hopefully we have those wires in stock to enable us to change those lines.
"We're turning on some of the machines now. In fact we're trying to turn on engine no.9, and that will enable us to turn on no.5, which is the new Itachi engine. If we can get those two on, that's going to give us about almost 50 megawatts of power.
"We anticipate to get back on stream on Sunday. Hopefully we can rectify this problem between now and Sunday, and then we should be okay. We may have some load shedding from area to area. But most persons, at least half of New Providence if not more, at least two-thirds will be on most of the time."
Last August Mr Miller warned that the corporation’s capacity to meet demand will be further challenged once Baha Mar comes on stream if a new power plant is not constructed.
Mr Miller said that, without a new power plant, which will cost about $200m, the country will continue to be plagued with outages that will worsen when Baha Mar is added to the grid.
A month later, Mr Miller said the corporation was seeking to purchase five or six new generators for about $6m. He said the plan to purchase the new generators was in direct response to the continuous blackouts and power outages in New Providence and throughout the Family Islands last summer - and preparation for Baha Mar being added to the grid.
In October Mr Miller said BEC had “scrapped” plans to purchase the six generators because “the corporation is broke”. He said that there is “just no money” to buy these generators and the much needed purchase would have to wait until after the government’s request for proposals (RFP) process for BEC’s restructuring is complete.
Last year however, whilst BEC was being plagued with power outages for several months, Mr Miller at the time said that was the “worst he has ever seen it”.
Comments
John 9 years, 1 month ago
O how we love BEC! At least we get news
asiseeit 9 years, 1 month ago
This is just the preview for summer when they will load shed straight through. Bar Mar coming and these twits are as always behind the eight ball. To busy making sure they boys straight and covering they ass to even think about good governance. The PLP is inept, immoral, unethical, and criminal. That we accept this as a people speaks volumes. What a shallow nation we have!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
BahaMar opens on the 27th? Stands to reason they would be testing around this time. The fire caused the blackout, but what caused the fire?
ObserverOfChaos 9 years, 1 month ago
Baha Mar was not "testing" anything....it's just the inept long term planning of BEC....
SP 9 years, 1 month ago
BEC power outage across New Providence caused major problems with BTC cell operations which led to a breakdown in communications Island wide.
When Baha Mar opens later this month and the usual summer load shedding hits, expect much more of the same.......10 years in coming off the drawing board and these clowns are still getting nowhere "talkin bout amum, I tink dis and dat".
It's no wonder the dam Haitians implemented their own parallel financial and business sectors and were taking over the country....These idiots (PLP & FNM) are dumber than dead sea urchins!
What a country.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
I just hope the clowns don't play politics with the sale of BEC. Can you imagine croney Dodley Banner being handed the contract? Candle manufacturer stocks would soar sky high. (Of course Dodley Banner has no ties with Audley Hanner)
digimagination 9 years, 1 month ago
As is so oft said on here, 'You just can't make this stuff up'.
John 9 years, 1 month ago
Those restaurants what have generators sure making money tonight. Especially on the cable beach strip
Emac 9 years, 1 month ago
Lol...They sure did make money. What is it with Bahamians and blackouts? Why do we get so hungry or feel we need to stock up on food whenever there are power outages? Or is it a psychological link to the black outs during the hurricane season?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
Dunno..(says while eating pizza slice)
Emac 9 years, 1 month ago
:-)
TheMadHatter 9 years, 1 month ago
We have to isolate those lines to see which line runs to which generators, then we have to change all those lines," he said. "Hopefully we have those wires in stock to enable us to change those lines.
May I suggest looking at the schematic diagrams. Oh, where did we put them now, I remember, wait, let me think, uhm yeah maybe in the, no hang on, they might be ... Didn't we computerize them? Wait, hang on ...
TheMadHatter
Alltoomuch 9 years, 1 month ago
Truly this really isn't funny. Our power was off for 11hours. God helps us - we sure can't help ourselves for some reason!
ohdrap4 9 years, 1 month ago
yesterday we lost power around 2pm, it flickered at 2am, then returned at 3am. that is 13 hours.
went off again 9am this morning and came back at 3pm.
UserOne 9 years, 1 month ago
My power was off for 28 hours. Had to throw out everything in my fridge.
Alltoomuch 9 years, 1 month ago
For all the talking in the world. We're very good at that!
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Comrades once upon a time customers of BEC, would pay their light bills with the expectation of, in we households and businesses, "we lights gonna be on tonight."
totherisingsun 9 years, 1 month ago
BEC $0.40 cents per KWh: destructive power and unreliable; post paid Generator: $1.00 per Kwh: good power; post paid in fuel & maintenance; non regenerative
Solar off Grid: $0.40 cents per Kwh: clean reliable power; prepaid in solar panels; regenerative (fuels itself)
Prepay now or don't complain about the post paid plan!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
How often do you have to replace panels?
bigbadbob 9 years, 1 month ago
panels last 25 years and if mounted right can take a good sized hurricane, good large batteries are 12 to 15 years ,
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Comrades seeing that these days especially when our light bills have become so unaffordable and when we're living in the days, when God is rarely invited to make regular appearances at our local church's, we could get smart and stop acting like there is not lots free energy available from the heavens.
Amen to cutting out holes in we roofs to make way to install we own spend more time looking-up at face God, through we skylights!
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 1 month ago
Perry "Vomit" Christie has ordered that his black crabs be well baked this coming summer...precisely the way he likes them!
paul_vincent_zecchino 9 years, 1 month ago
Buckets of them.
Craig 9 years, 1 month ago
The problem with BEC is quite simple to describe. Incompetence. Incompetence from the GM down to lowest levels in the organization. When a healthy dose of corruption and lack of productivity is added to the mix the result is BEC in its current state. The powers that be needs to clean house starting with the GM and the executive team and those in charge of engineering and planning. These people need to be replaced by competent individuals which unfortunately do not reside in the Bahamas. Its amazing that government after government would entrust such a critical resource as the nations power infrastructure to such levels of incompetence. Until major changes are made the problem will only get worst.
The only thing that the executive team at BEC is really good at is making excuses. I can't wait to see what excuse they will use to explain this catastrophic failure. I must admit they are quite creative. I must give them that!!!!
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Comrade Craig can you look-up from inside your household or business place, directly into the heavens? Would it be a smart idea for all building permits to require a minimum number of skylights in all buildings under construction?
paul_vincent_zecchino 9 years, 1 month ago
They'd be sitting in the catbird's seat had they the capacity to meet increasing demand, a sellers dream.
But they lack capacity, and from the sound of it, things only will get worse.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
I am sorry but this is ridiculous. Rather than standing up in the House telling us how much extra security you need to add to your already beefed up security, you should be telling us about the REAL national security threat. Do you realize the ENTIRE island is without power due to a fault at a SINGLE location???? What happens if God forbid that single location suffers a catastrophic event that destroys the entire facility? Blackout for what, months??? Get off your fat ducasses and start acting like a government who has serious issues to address. First fire Audley Hanna, second charge the BEC extortionist with HIGH TREASON. This blackout is his fault. Third start a program to get every house on this island solar power, start in Bain Town and Farm Road, you may have heard of them. They voted for you and while you sit in AC tonight eating Grey Poupon, they are in darkness. Fourth dont play around with the sale of BEC make sure that buyer has a well established TRACK RECORD of good service. This is REAL national security
And for God's sake stop pounding on those desks like a bunch of dodo birds. No disrespect to dodo birds intended.
onlyinthebahamas 9 years, 1 month ago
I wonder if the PM, the deputy and Leslie Miller are reading all of these comments! If so, what are they thinking? That there are a lot of HAPPY BAHAMIANS! Quit on the contrary. EVERYONE is upset and frustrated!! What is next??? First VAT, then this Power crisis (and I'm sure we have the highest priced energy here in the Bahamas), BAMSI, the new stupid immigration laws, and then NHI in January?? How much more are we willing to take? can we take?? When will we receive some GOOD NEWS, from HONEST Politicians? Everything they say is based on lies and on twisting the truth! How can we trust these leaders? I CAN"T TRUST THEM! Can YOU?? How do they expect the public to have any respect for them!! It's just incredible what is going on in this country. We are much worse off then we were back in 1973. There is nothing to be proud of after 40 years of independence. We have gone down hill ever since then. That's my 5 cents!!
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
by TalRussell
watcher 9 years, 1 month ago
Power out 1.30 pm Friday. Power back on 1.30 am Sunday. Total hours without any power or running water - 36 hours. Please tell me who will pay for all the rotten food I (and thousands of others) will now have to throw out, together with broken electrical appliances? Government was recently so quick to point out how much money a strike by the Bahamas Air pilots "cost" them - $840,000........anyone care to guess how much Mr Miller's incompetence has cost the country in the last two days alone? My conservative estimate is $8,400,000. And we have not even seen BahaMar come on stream and the first days of Summer are still months away.....Shame on you Government, shame on you.
Alltoomuch 9 years, 1 month ago
@onlyinthebahamas - we do have JunkanooCarnival to look forward too!
hanskate 9 years, 1 month ago
I find it incomprehensible, how in the 21st century, an Island of the size of New Providence could have such a poor grasp of their own infrastructure, that this particular power catastrophe could even occur. Obviously, maintenance of ALL equipment has been an issue......I'm no conspiracy nut, but the timing of ALL our last years power outages DO certainly point to the construction of the BAHAMAR....BUT Nassau has also grown very quickly, in the past years.....new neighborhoods and houses springing up everywhere.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF OUTAGES, IS UNACCEPTABLE.
After being saddled with a 71/2% VAT in January, it appears, as usual, the government is playing with us......We all lost a lot of food....that is a given......our electrical equipment now has a much shorter lifespan. We have all breathed in MORE noxious fumes, from our neighbors' generators, while secretly coveting the fact they can afford them..... BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO USE NEBULIZERS ?????THE ELDERLY WHO DEPEND ON OXYGEN????? DIABETICS, WHOSE MEDICATIONS REQUIRE REFRIGERATION???????
The good people of this BEAUTIFUL country need to stand up and peacefully protest the BEC and the governing behind it.........ALL the people....
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE ALLTOOK OUR SPOILED GARBAGE, AND PEACEFULLY PUT IT ON THE FRONT LAWN OF BEC HEADQUARTERS........THE MASS QUANTITY WOULD CERTAINLY GRAB THEIR ATTENTION!!!! LET THEM CARRY OFF THE TROUBLES THEY HAVE CAUSED.......LET THEM HAVE TO DISPOSE OF IN THE DUMP..........(That's still burning, is it not)...........
The_Oracle 9 years, 1 month ago
It has taken over 40 years of incompetence, political meddling, slush funding, union saturation, kickbacks, payoffs, to create this situation. You want it fixed now? you couldn't have arrived at at this disaster any faster had you planned to! Neither do you make consistently wrong decisions for over 40 years without facing a very high price!
akbar 9 years, 1 month ago
Aging power stations,poorly planned infrastructure and incompetent engineers that sound like the fuel that caused this fire. BEC needs more than a new management team but a strategic partner who is familiar with generation and distribution of electricity based on our capacity who will not just ring every profit and penny out of the company to transfer to their foreign homebase but who will be in a position to help us correct our infrastructural shortcomings and manage more efficiently.
But on the brighter side if there is one, maybe just maybe some of yall had no choice with no smartphones, tvs,internet etc. and spend some quality time ,outdoors with your family. I know that kill some of yall SMH.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
Met a lady last week Tuesday who told me her power was going on and off from Monday morning. She lives in the west. BEC may have been having under the radar problems all week which culminated in the catastrophic failure on Friday.
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Comrades while costs at BEC relating to political interference, fuel, old equipment and out of whack payrolls and employee benefits are contributing factors, we also have to take notice that the only solar energy built into the construction of the Andros's BAMSI, were the flames shooting from the roof.
What solar energy provisions went into building the National Stadium by the Chinese? Would be interesting to know with China as the world's leading installer of solar photovoltaics, what solar installations were done at Baha Mar?
The same question must also be asked; what are you doing to install solar energy into all the other commercial and residential projects underway or being planned? This should also apply to both new construction and major renovations.
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Check your calendar Comrade "Pot cake," cuz not only has it turned March 15, 2015, and it was back on November 19, 2014, when you did say: "That despite the steep drop in global oil prices, BEC customers should not expect to see decreases in electricity bills - until “at least January 2015”. Yet, despite paying their damn bills, now when you flicks the light switches on - not only are the light bulbs not coming on, but stick your finger in wall socket, with no fear getting shocked.
bigbadbob 9 years, 1 month ago
put in solar, I have been off the grid for three years , no worries about power companies and no power bills . now i have a solar powered car no gas or power company. Its a mater of knowing power companies will always be bad, so use the sun and be your own power company.
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Comrade Bigbadbog may I ask what your total costs were to go solar and did the government financially reward with cash assistance or with rebates to help cover your investment? May I suggest you may want to consider opening your place for 2 hours once a month, for interested parties to stop by to have for a firsthand look at why they should be going solar.
What are your real BEC savings monthly? Did you use a local company and are you willing to recommend them?
bigbadbob 9 years, 1 month ago
i have a 5000 sq ft house and the light bills were 600 a month winter 900 to 1200 summer, my last three year light bills on solar total were only 300 . I bought the 10 kw system in florida at solar electonics for 14,000 and we installed it ourself with a electrian. the first batterys did not work well sold them and spent 10,000 more on a better set, rolles 530 so im about 25,000 cost my saving so far is about 8400 per year in three years its paid for. We get full airconditioning , and have only had to switchback to the grid a few times after three days of overcast. I also have two solar hot water panels. But you dont have to do it all atonce if you can not afford the big cost, start with a smaller sytem 3 kw for 5000 and add when you get savings. the goverment helped by no duty saved a lot.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
What's the lifetime, when will you have to replace panels?
bigbadbob 9 years, 1 month ago
25 years life time expected from panels, 12 to 15 years batteries, and can be installed hurrican proof or at least resistant.
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Comrades I am a novice when it comes to solar energy and curious, if there can be a potential besides savings on electricity costs and helping the environment which is vital to our tourism economics, is there an argument for the government rewarding you for the extra electricity you generate? If this were the case the added bonus over the long term might make more sense than having your money sit in a bank's low interest account? I think government has a financial responsibility to encourage home and business owners to invent into the most efficient energy savings programs.
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 1 month ago
The bungling dysfunctional incompetent Perry "Vomit" Christie is the primary culprit behind all that has gone wrong at BEC, leaving our country unable to meet its electrical power supply needs. It is none other than Christie himself who has allowed self-confessed Lady Smacker Miller and union leaders like Hanna to run BEC into the ground. Meanwhile Christie has the pudgy one with short stubby grubby dirty sticky fingers trying to figure out how best to go about restructuring the ownership of BEC so that Christie's PLP apparatus and certain of his select political friends and business cronies can make out like bandits at the expense of his caged poor black crabs who will be left to bake in the sweltering summer heat soon to be upon them. Yes, Christie does indeed like to have his black crabs served well baked come the height of summer as they crawl around during long hot unbearable days and nights, seeking what little relief if any that they can find. Perhaps some comfort and relief might be found by a few thousand of us over cooked crabs loitering in the lobby areas of those well air conditioned foreign owned hotels like Baha Mar and Atlantis.
bigbadbob 9 years, 1 month ago
I put my solar system in out of my savings exactily as talrussell says , was getting .05 percent , by investing in solar i got my money back in 3 years and now making 33 percent on my investment . With that money i have now invested in a electric car 20k no gas no electricty runs off my spare solar from my house gets 120 miles to a charge and goes very quick . we must try to get more solar into the bahamas , and use the sun, its free.
by bigbadbob
sansoucireader 9 years, 1 month ago
Anyone else notice more Bahamians migrating? I know of at least 12 people in the last 2-3 months. Used to be unheard of, now seems like if they have the opportunity, people are getting out of this madness.
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