Miller: BEC customers may see cost reduction in July bill

BEC Chairman Leslie Miller

As of Sunday, March 22, 2015

BEC Chairman Leslie Miller speaks on Friday.

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

CUSTOMERS may see a cost reduction in their electricity bill in July, Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Chairman Leslie Miller confirmed yesterday.

Mr Miller said BEC has recently completed negotiations with Aggreko - the world's largest temporary power generation company - for the rental of equipment that would provide an additional 40 megawatts of power to the corporation, which he said would be in place by the first week in May.

The move, which he called a "short-term fix," would cost the corporation about $8m for a rental period of six to eight months. However, he said the corporation may seek to extend the rental period.

Nonetheless, in doing so, Mr Miller said the temporary acquisition would further, if not completely, mitigate the chance of reoccuring power outages as experienced last summer, as well as cause a reduction in the bills of consumers.

"The board just agreed to award a contract to one of the major international companies that has serviced us before with the engines; we're going with them again for 40 megawatts of power," he said. "It's going to cost us right under $8 million for a six-month period. Actually it's 30 weeks that we've rented those equipment for, we may go further.

"Now because of the amount of fuel that those generators use, it is much less than what we use at Blue Hills, so we'll end up with a net savings of about $4.5 million and we intend to ask the government to let us recoup our cost for the generators out of that, so that we don't have to pay anything.

"The Bahamian people are still going to get a reduction in their bill. So even with the costs we'll be paying, we'll be saving even more money instead of using Blue Hills, and that's what we intend to do."

He added: "Those savings will come probably in their July bill, because it takes time to tie into the grid. By the first week in May, we want to have those engines here, into the grid, and then we'll start producing, generating, and providing the people with little added electricity from there."

Mr Miller's statements, made as he addressed the Rotary Club of East Nassau, come after an island-wide power outage affected the island of New Providence last weekend.

Although subsequently revealed to have been caused by a "fire in the trenches" at the Blue Hills Power Station, there was speculation that the blackout was a result of mega resort Baha Mar "testing" its facilities in preparation for its March 27 opening.

That rumour was subsequently refuted by Mr Miller last week, who said the outage had nothing to do with Baha Mar.

Yesterday, however, Mr Miller said the corporation is currently providing power to Baha Mar, and said the resort will open its doors to the public at no expense to the corporation or customers.

"Baha Mar is going to take up 16 megawatts of power at full speed," he said. "Right now they're taking up about six to eight megawatts. We'll be ready for Baha Mar during the summer. Clifton is now in pretty decent shape and Blue Hills is back up to scratch.

"We expect that the contribution from Baha Mar would be anywhere between $2.5 million to $3 million per month on their bill, and we look forward to it because we need the money. And we want to provide them with the best service at the cheapest price. So we look forward to Baha Mar coming on stream."

watcher 9 years, 1 month ago

Nowhere in this article, nor other recent statements made by Mr Miller, will we the consumers see a reduction in our electric bills due to the recent huge fall in oil prices. How can he explain this ? Is the Corporation paying top dollar to Snake at our expense, or is BEC gouging us so that it can pay its bills to suppliers and overtime for its so-called workers? And he also states that BEC can "cope with" Bahamar at full capacity - yes, but apparently only by renting additional generators.

Whenever he opens his mouth, Mr Miller just gives the FNM another slogan to use at the next election. Hold on to your hats people, it's going to be a bumpy, hot, ride this Summer

Cobalt 9 years, 1 month ago

"Customers may say cost reduction in July bill????" I'm assuming that there's a typo and the Tribune actually means "see a cost reduction." Either way it doesn't matter. Nothing that this government promises ever comes to fruition. Empty promises after empty promises.

Furthermore...... didn't Leslie Miller promise a reduction in electricity bill sometime last year? Still waiting.

duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago

Lord ............... when will you free us from these Philistines????????????

TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago

BEC’s Comrade 'Pot cake' Chairman Leslie, really needs learn not to runs his mouth just likes the PLP cabinet have mastered on BAMSI. Second, the ‘Pot cake’s’ political future might remember how the PM has imposed an unwritten code of jailhouse rules amongst his cabinet colleagues and more so on his young blood House MP’s free thought – no matter what the media asks you, keep your damn mouths shut. But unfortunately for da 'Pot cake,' he does volunteer run his big trap. Absolutely no reporter probing required. It's likes he mouth has its own standby power generator.

John 9 years, 1 month ago

That's not a typo that's a prediction or premonition: Leslie Miller may say it but that doesn't mean the customers will see it

killemwitdakno 9 years, 1 month ago

Did Miller pay his remaining $200k yet?

killemwitdakno 9 years, 1 month ago

Is this all to create a reason for sale with measley benefit? really sick of this , must be so hot. Why couldn't the one $5 million generator be bought by now until an overhaul is done? Didn't the number boys pay their tax ? Hasn't some Vat been collected?

Or are they wanting a bidder to pay for it all. Not much to grasp, no FOIA.

John 9 years, 1 month ago

Don't let this government steal your joy. They may just be puppets being manipulated by animals who believe the Bahamas was too good for Bahamians. When things was tuff back in the day a Bahamian mother could get 1/4 pound a Bologna sausage, a small tin a tomato paste a small onion and a pound of rice and feed her family. When the current went off it didn't affect most people anyway because they all pack in one room usnd tell stories til they fall sleep. Today the I phone the x box the play station and even Facebook require (BEC) power to operate. Many young people don't realize they're human and they have a family till the current go off. THANKS. Leslie!

duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago

Yep ............ we need to go back to the days of real family. The gadgets have stolen our family from us!!!!!!!!!!!

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