BEC: Eastern New Providence residents should brace for 'periodic' supply interruptions

As of Friday, November 20, 2015

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS In eastern New Providence should brace themselves for “periodic" supply interruptions over the next few weeks as the Bahamnas Electricity Corporation (BEC) carries out planned improvement exercises in the area.

The work will be carried out on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays as necessary between 9am to 4pm, beginning this week until December 16, a statement from BEC read on Friday.

"BEC is carrying out an exercise to reinforce its Overhead 33kv transmission circuit between its Winton 33kv substation and St Michael’s Road. The purpose of this exercise is to reinforce and strengthen the infrastructure bringing supply to the eastern portion of the island. Once the project is completed it is expected to reduce the possibility of supply interruption due to overloading in the area," the statement said.

"Over the next few weeks it is possible for consumers in the area to experience periodic interruptions of supply for several hours. In an effort to minimise the periods of these interruptions, work will be carried out on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays as necessary between 9am to 4pm. It is intended for the project to be completed on or before December 16, 2015. We understand that the exercise may result in some inconvenience to our customers during this time; however, once complete we expect improved service into eastern New Providence."

Last week, BEC blamed a faulty circuit breaker for a power outage that left eastern New Providence without electricity for hours.

In a statement, BEC said a circuit breaker failed at one of the 33,000-volt substations at the Blue Hills Power Station just before 6am and a failure of a 33,000-volt cable between the Blue Hills and Solider Road substations shortly thereafter caused the outages.

BEC has been grappling with issues over the past few months, which have led to multiple power outages.

The government began negotiations with American company PowerSecure International over a five-year BEC management contract in May, and signed a transition services agreement in late July. At that time, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the new plan would ensure fewer blackouts and power outages for the country.

A new BEC board was appointed at the beginning of the month.

Cobalt 8 years, 5 months ago

Brace for periodic supply interruptions to carry out planned improvement exercises in the area???????

Who the hell does BEC think they're fooling?????

This statement by BEC is nothing more than a euphemism.

What they really mean to say is, "we're sorry.... but we're a black owned, black operated, full of shit company. We've always been full of shit; still are full of shit; and always will be full of shit until a white owed, white operated, foreign entity comes and takes over. We sincerely apologize for our incompetence, but our managerial team along with our ground workers happen to be a product of the F average educational system that we've been subjected to, and a direct extension of our two bungling governmental parties. We simply cannot help the fact that your houses are in darkness, because the fact remains, our brains are in darkness too. Again...... we do apologize for any inconvenience caused."

BoopaDoop 8 years, 5 months ago

OMG...Cobalt That was right on-perfect.

BoopaDoop 8 years, 5 months ago

They could probably add....We have been overspending on fuel which has damaged our credit and therefore have to limit generator run time.

sansoucireader 8 years, 5 months ago

Life in New Providence, Bahamas. You can't make this stuff up.

ThisIsOurs 8 years, 5 months ago

How is this different? And if this was all per schedule, why was the statement issued "after" the power went out ...again

Emac 8 years, 5 months ago

-:) Something tells me that all of the above live out East. My advise: Buy yinna, ice, salt and non perishable items. Cut back on meats and make sure yinna gat one a dem batt'ry operated fans. Oh ,oh and Kelly's gat them solar lights on sale, just in time for the Christmas/Bahamas Black Friday/BEC event!

BoopaDoop 8 years, 5 months ago

You been regress 50 years and get comfortable without having modern amenities.

SP 8 years, 5 months ago

.................................. Waiting on the REAL white saviors NOT! ...................................

Freeport residents cried for and got their wish for "real white people" too, and got them!

Now they have power but can't afford the electricity provided by the white people.

Anyone ignorant enough not have seen through government usual procrastination, and pending deterioration of BEC abilities needs to question their own level of intelligence.

Waiting for government and the white people to fix an ongoing 40 year old problem for you obviously was a dumb decision.

Tribune bargain finder has been advertising and selling all kinds of generators for years because after 40 years experience, some people had enough sense to prepare for the inevitable.

Greentea 8 years, 5 months ago

People, stop the facile and ignorant white/black crap. White does not ensure competence and black does not mean incompetence, that is a profoundly ignorant statement. Baystreet is owned by white people and you see how that looks- And I come from a good stock of competent, moral and highly accomplished negroes. Lets insist on reasonable, competent and incorruptible people rather than this drivel of racial determination. Living in the east is a difficult because of the frequent blackouts. I have lived there for ten years and have been in a battle with BEC to save appliances and electronics because of frequent brownouts and blackouts. system was supposed to be fixed several years ago but as we see an eastender- a fox hillian no doubt- sold us down the river with his unnamed comrades. Didnt even have the sense to have them used the bad generators in a another part of town.

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