Published On:Wednesday, March 09, 2011

By TANEKA THOMPSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

tthompson@tribunemedia.net

A GROUP of Abaco residents are set to protest against BEC this Thursday over unresolved issues with the island's power supply.

The scheduled protest will come a week after BEC officials held a town meeting on the island, where they promised that "by hook or crook" the community's electricity woes would be dealt with by the summer.

As previously reported, many on the island fear BEC will not be able to keep its pledge, forcing locals, second home owners and other tourists to grapple with intermittent power cuts and a consequent drop in business yet again.

"Lots of business people here feel they (BEC) are just trying to satisfy somebody (with words)," one business owner told The Tribune yesterday.

"People feel they are getting mixed messages. Last week BEC said new lines will be in by the summer - that could mean as late as September," added the entrepreneur, who did not want to be identified. "Next month, are they going to say something else?"

Another Abaco resident said her business has dropped by at least 20 per cent because of dips in the power supply. Meanwhile, calls continue to pour in from tourists who are worried their summer travel plans will be blighted by blackouts, she added.

"I do have a lot of customers that have written to me and asked are they going to have to put up with it again this year. We have a marina with 10 rented slips but we've lost two of our long-term boats because of the power fluctuations - that's 20 per cent of our business," said the hotelier.

"They keep saying it's going to get better and I think it would be a major mistake and let down to tourists and the residents if they don't get this sorted out".

Last week, BEC officials insisted that construction of overhead transmission lines for the Wilson City Power Plant will be completed by the summer - although no exact date was given - a move expected to alleviate Abaco's power outages during peak usage periods.

"We are going to get it right this summer," BEC chairman Michael Moss told the skeptical crowd.

Government is reviewing bids for the installation of an upgraded transmission line capable of providing a consistent power supply to Abaco residents. A contract should be signed by the end of this month.

Construction on the new overhead transmission line is expected to begin in April with a summer completion date.

If the line is not in place by the summer, BEC will rely on the generators - which are currently undergoing a $1 million refurbishment - at the Marsh Harbour Power Station.

"At present we are fully capable of providing 14 megawatts of electricity from the Wilson City Power Station via the existing transmission line. Should, for any reason, the transmission line not be installed on time, we are presently overhauling the generators at the Marsh Harbour Power Station," explained Mr Moss at the town meeting.

"One million has been earmarked for this project and once completed the Marsh Harbour Power Station will have the capacity to supply a minimum of 11 megawatts (MW) of reliable electricity. Wilson City and Marsh Harbour running simultaneously will adequately meet Abaco's peak demand of 25 megawatts," Mr Moss said.

"By hook or by crook, residents in Abaco will not be subjected to another summer of constant outages," he added.