Power outage hours have been decreasing
Power outage hours in the BVI have steadily declined, with April recording the lowest outage hours in the past five years, according to General Manager of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), Dr Neil Smith.
Speaking during a recent Virgin Islands Voice broadcast, Dr Smith said, “The fact of the matter is that when we look at the data, the outage hours across the territory have actually been decreasing. And actually right now, well, for the month of April, we’re not finished with May yet, it’s the lowest it has been in the last five years.”
He acknowledged that while some feeders may have experienced inconveniences recently, the corporation had been working to resolve these.
“There may be some inconveniences on specific feeders because of some problems we’ve been having with one of our bigger machines. It’s a problem that the manufacturers themselves weren’t able to solve. We’ve been applying fixes to make sure that the public isn’t affected as much,” he stated.
The BVIEC has been undergoing an extensive renovation of its thermal engines at the Pockwood Pond power station.
“We have nine thermal machines in Pockwood Pond that have various levels of problems on them. And we’ve been systematically investing in those machines to make sure that they’re working at their peak capacity,” Dr Smith reported.
He projected that within the next 18 months, all the machines should be operating optimally, which is expected to further improve service reliability and lower electricity costs.
“We expect that in maybe the next 18 months or so, we’ll have all of those machines operating in the best manner possible. And that is important because it’s needed to make sure that the engines run as efficiently as possible,” he explained.
In addition to engine maintenance, the corporation is advancing its renewable energy goals.
“We have an extensive solar integration mandate. The idea behind integrating renewables onto the system is simply from our point of view to lower electricity bills. It’s as simple as that,” Dr Smith asserted.
The BVIEC is also finalising an advanced monitoring system to ensure grid stability as more solar energy is introduced.
“We’re in the final stages of doing evaluation for a SCADA system that will allow us to stay in one location and load shed and monitor load flows,” Dr Smith said.
The government recently committed $1 million to support solar installations, part of wider plans to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
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Meanwhile we just have to hold one for 1.5 years, then when that time is finished and nothing has changed, it will be another set of excuses
wiped out the above ground electrical distribution system in 12 hrs. on 6 Sept. 2017. When will the BVIEC commence construction of the underground electric distribution system like on other Caribbean islands; e.g. St. Maarten?
When the USA airbase was still operating , the base offered for free to bury all services island wide to keep the troops occupied and as a gift to Bermuda . The sitting government under pressure from the industrial unions declined this more than generous offer because “ it would create unemployment and cut overtime payments “ !
Exactly the mindset in the BVI. Our leaders are basically trash as well.
It would have also kept out American imperialism.
All minds are not created equal or are wants to be indepted to others.
Sound like an old fool. Large Capital project are difficult to execute without backing of some country with large resources.
Exactly it probably would cost a lot to produce and maintain that maintain that many copper wires.
What is your rational for merging 2 utility companies that need fixing? Can you bring a public explanation about this decision?
That thought will keep me warm while sat in the dark no a/c no fridge or internet at least I’m showing the imperialist I’m not a dumb idiot Ha!
Definitely is a lot better. Hope that is so everywhere. Once they get the same billing in place as they have for water half of us will no longer be paying for electric either.
Great decision to merge. Tired of these electric bills!
This thing where the Malaysian company comes to service switches and breaker and carry out a full suppression, couldn’t it be done that you tie the feeders at pockwood pond station outside on the riser poles and disconnect the cable going back to the breakers bean serviced? Adjust the breaker settings to take the load and communicate with large customers like supermarkets and hotels to go on generator and allow the regular household to have power? If you can supply jost vandyke and the western part of the island and you are not short of generator capacity it can be done.
Time to go nuclear. Plenty of places to put it and lots of seawater to cool it. Premier can even hold glow in the dark dance parties too.
It’s so we can combine charges on all housing regardless if they’re connected to town-water& sewage or not and double charge those who have cisterns.
RIGHT NOW – BOTHH WATER & ELECTRICITY IS OFF IN TOWN AND THEY HAVE BEEN OF SINCE LAST NIGHT AFTER 10 PM / ( AND LOOK WHO THEY LEFT TO RUN THE COUNTRY WHILE THEY GORNE ON A TRIP , MONE OTHER THAN MR KIE LIE / EELL WE WERE WARNED BY CSC THAT ” WE GETTING FRIGGED ACCORDING TO HIS GOSPEL / BY THE WAY , U TUNN GHOST AGAIN ? OR WAH
Thank God that mines was only off from before 10pm last night and still off when I left home 7:30am this morning.
Would not like to see the long hours.
You know you’re in a 3rd word country when you have to count LESS power outages as an accomplishment…
I always wondered why the BVI never has any American phone companies. It would be great for American tourist to be able to have access to their phones. With how close the BVI is to The USVI and the USA.