The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AS thousands of Bahamians continue to grapple with conditions left behind by Hurricane Matthew made harder in the absence of electricity, Bahamas Power and Light Ltd said the company aims to have 75 per cent of customer services restored by the end of the week and outlined its plan to reconnect the remaining 25 per cent.

BPL CEO Pamela Hill said yesterday that about 52 per cent of New Providence’s customers were back on line.

BPL’s plan, Ms Hill said, will see PowerSecure – its management company – double the line staff and increase equipment beginning Friday.

The plan also involves support from retired Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) employees that know the system and assistance from sister power companies in the Caribbean.

The strategy is expected to provide support for the 150 workers already on the streets of New Providence. These linesmen and technicians have been working 16-hour shifts each day beginning at 7am.

In a newly released video uploaded to BPL’s Facebook page, perceived to be a public relations strategy to remedy the backlash the company has received, Mrs Hill said BPL’s work is “great,” but it remains committed to resolving the issues.

Her comments came after former BEC Executive Chairman Leslie Miller and Paul Maynard, the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union president, both castigated BPL on Tuesday saying it had failed to coordinate proper efforts to tackle to wide range of repairs needed in the aftermath of the monster storm.

Today marks eight days that some consumers have been without power supply.

“Much of our generation, transmission and distribution systems were damaged resulting in damage to our communities as well,” Mrs Hill said. “Some of this our customers can readily see as they drive on our streets. Other damage simply isn’t visible to the naked eye. That said, our crews have been undaunted and we have made significant progress in the less than a week into our restoration efforts.

“In the Family Islands with the exception of North and Central Andros, restoration is at 95 per cent. In New Providence we’ve restored power to more than half of our customers specifically almost 50,000 of our total 80,000 residential customers are on and more than 80 per cent of our business customers they are on too because that’s important as they are the lifeblood of our economy.”

She continued: “By the end of this week our goal is to have at least 75 per cent of our customers on. Our plan to get to 100 per cent is as follows: First we’ll start with those who know our nation best, our fellow Bahamians. Our crews are working 16-hour days out on the streets beginning at 7 in the morning not finishing up their shift until 11 at night or sometimes later.

“Our retirees and former employees who know our system well are right back on the job working shoulder to shoulder with us. Likewise we are getting support from local contractors and we’ll continue involving others who have the manpower and capabilities to help us.

“Second we’re calling on our sister power companies in the Caribbean. Cayman Utilities is arriving this evening and line crews from other nations will be arriving in the coming days,” she said yesterday. “Finally our management company PowerSecure will double the size of BPL’s line crew and equipment and begin providing support on Friday.”

Last night, BPL released a statement advising that there was a “small fire” at one of its Aggreko plants, which has been contained. BPL said that incident did not impact its ability to supply power to its customers.

“A fire broke out on one of the one megawatt units at the Aggreko 2 plant just after 7pm on Wednesday evening,” BPL said. “Immediately, crews turned off the fuel supply as well shutdown the engines at the entire Aggreko 2 plant to prevent the fire from spreading. With the assistance of the fire department, the fire on the single unit was extinguished at 7.15pm. No one was injured in the incident.”

It is unclear what caused the incident, BPL said, adding that in the mean time, BPL will continue generate power from both its Clifton and Blue Hills Power Stations as well as the original Aggreko 1 plant (40 MW) that was not impacted by the small fire.

Outrage

While the video was expected to address customer concerns and ease the push back toward BPL, it seemed to anger Bahamians, who expressed their outrage in frank terms on the company’s Facebook page.

One user said: “You think this video suppose to make us feel at ease? Nope. Send out them trucks (especially Sea Breeze) ‘cause I can’t see how Joe Farrington Road have full light but Sea Breeze doesn’t (sic).”

“With all due respect, it’s been one week now and I have not seen one person from the power company in my area, Shirlea, which is behind Shirley and Mackey (Streets). We have not even been on any of your lists ever. Furthermore I haven’t seen any lists since Monday past. This is the worse service from BEC/BPL in response to a hurricane that I can recall. A response would be appreciated but not expected (sic),” another user lamented.

Another user added: “This is unacceptable! Do your job, hire more help or import it. Six days since the hurricane and you’re concerned about PR? Stay out of the media and go to work!”

Yesterday BPL crews were working in Golden Gates 1, Sea Breeze Lane, Pineyard Road, Sandilands Village Road, Coral Lakes, Bellot Road West, Chippingham, Kemp Road, Farrington Road, Stapledon Gardens, Key West Street, Balfour Avenue, and East Street (north of Wulff Road).

They said crews were expected to do their best to restore power in respective areas. However, there may be challenges with individual supply or the supply on a particular street once BPL energised an area. BPL asked for patience as it continued to try to restore as many customers as possible and then concentrate on individual customers.