NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) is moving ahead with key modernization initiatives to strengthen the nation’s energy grid, with Chief Operating Officer Anthony Christie yesterday announcing the launch of a smart metering pilot project during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister.
Christie detailed plans for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which will be introduced to 165 residential and small commercial customers in Eleuthera. The pilot program will cover Rock Sound, Palmetto Point, Governor’s Harbour and Harbour Island, with installation expected to begin before year-end.
“These meters allow us to acquire data instantaneously, pinpoint issues in real time, and address them quickly,” Christie said. “They will improve reliability, resiliency, and the overall way we provide service. Customers will also be able to monitor their usage online and avoid estimated bills.”
The pilot will run for 30 days, generating usage data that BPL will use to refine its request for proposals for a full nationwide rollout. Christie emphasized there will be no cost to customers for meter installation or service.
Eleuthera was chosen for the project because of its diverse customer base, ranging from high-density Harbour Island to more varied residential and commercial loads across the 110-mile-long mainland. Christie said the island’s mix of usage patterns will give BPL the insight needed to design the broader program.
“This is part of the government’s overall energy reform,” Christie explained. “We’re improving generation systems, adding renewables, strengthening transmission and distribution, and now moving toward a smart grid. AMI addresses the customer side of the system and puts real-time information in the hands of both BPL and our customers.”
Christie noted that the smart meters will also support energy conservation, allowing households and businesses to track consumption hourly, daily, or monthly and adjust usage to better manage costs.
Alongside the AMI rollout, Christie confirmed that BPL recently addressed an outage at the Preston Albury School in Eleuthera, caused by an unapproved electrical installation. A temporary fix has been put in place to restore power, with a permanent solution requiring Ministry of Works approval and certified electrical work.
Christie added that the pilot forms part of a multi-million-dollar long-term investment program that will see BPL integrate renewables, deploy supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and expand smart grid technologies across its 29 power stations on 17 islands.
“This is about building a smarter, more resilient utility,” Christie said. “We are modernizing every aspect of our operations to deliver better service for our customers and prepare the grid for the future.”
