BVI hit with rolling blackouts amid power generation woes
Communities across the BVI were hit by multiple power outages throughout the course of the day and late into the evening yesterday, August 8.
The first outage started around 6 am when residents awoke to find their power gone without any warning. That outage lasted for roughly three hours for some as power was restored sometime after 9 am. Others had their power restored much later.
The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) issued a notice sometime before 7 am that it was experiencing power generation issues.
“The BVI Electricity Corporation would like to notify its customers that due to a loss of generating capacity, which occurred at approximately 6 am this morning, August 8, 2023, a number of areas are currently without power,” a notice on its Facebook page read.
An updated notice posted three hours later said the BVIEC empathised with its customers and promised regular updates on progress that was being made. At the time, the Corporation promised to continue to work diligently to restore power to all affected customers “in a safe and efficient manner”.
However, residents continued to report subsequent outages late in the afternoon and up into the evening, lasting as late as 9 pm for some residents, with no further updates coming from the Corporation.
In a press conference held with officials late last month, the BVIEC indicated that power outages will continue unabated for residents and businesses for the foreseeable future due to issues beyond the Corporation’s control.
“All power stations have issues and with the distribution system we have, feeders will trip. So someone sitting in front of you telling you the power will not go off again is plain out misleading you,” General Manager Dr Neil Smith explained at the time.
In the meantime, residents and businesses continue to complain about the frequent and unplanned power outages that have been causing many inconveniences, particularly given the hot weather that is being experienced currently.
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My neighbours live in a shanty, them not have current or gas hook up at all, so we went by dem for fish soup for breakfast… that was the best fish soup ever.
All power stations have issues; especially when they have been ill maintained for decades despite the billions of government revenue paid in since the 1980s.
Where did it go?
we dont have nuclear….
Still no short-term plans presented to help mitigate immediate future production, or a 5-year and 10-year plan to give the people.
The gen-sets that run BVIEC are not just bought off the shelf! Planning needs to be made now, not tomorrow.
The demand in 2016 was close to 35 megawatts which the new generators were brought in the handle – where are we now on our current demands?
Without any census how are you estimating future demands? How are you preparing for future capacities to be installed? Costs? Timelines?
Is terrifying how many critical infrastructural needs are absolutely ignored here and preempted by frivolous expenditure aimed at appeasing the few. Well, let me tell you, when this grid fails, and it will soon if no attention is paid, you’ll see the mob go crazy!
We recently spent 1.3 million dollars on jumping up and dancing naked in the streets…..No water to bathe nor electricity to see.
Please explain the types of ‘issues’ in the BVIEC that result in these random major power cuts.
The next shoe to drop will be the Power52 plant on Anegada. Set of leaders with heads in the sand.
“We recently spent 1.3 million dollars on jumping up and dancing naked in the streets…..No water to bathe nor electricity to see.”
Pleas home grown people with sense, intelligence and intellect, make this make sense for meh.
What, where are the problems? Can they be fixed?
That 1.6 m on a wall or the 7.2 m on a plane is needed now
embarrassment of a island we live on
Third world problems
Millions to buy Chateau/millions for land adjacent to chateau/only God knows how much for Toad Hall.VG we need help water off daily electricity off ever so often smoke in the hills and a man here talking about transparency what a thing to tell the king
Neil Smith is honest with the people give him the credit Professionals are here to be training our local boys and we have more problems than ever . I wonder why ???
Too much corruption from the higher up
Keeping these men here so long for what and nothing doing .
Have you ever wonder who collect the tents where these men stay ?
I wonder if that is why they are still
Around . Asking for a friend
Salty Fish, I wish that I could recommend your post 10 times…
This place is fifth world
AND FOY GIVE AWAY 23 MILLION DOLLARS IN HIS DISTRICT ALONE