NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) Chief Executive, Toni Seymour, on Thursday apologised to Family Island residents affected by prolonged power outages and announced a 50 percent rebate on base rates for the next billing cycle for customers in Eleuthera, Long Island, and Cat Island.
“I would like to apologise once again to all of our Family Island customers who have been experiencing extended outages due to power disruptions, generation shortfalls, or other challenges, and to advise that we are offering a 50 percent rebate on the base rate for the next billing cycle,” Seymour said.
She noted that BPL had budgeted roughly $30 million this summer for Family Island upgrades to stabilise generation and distribution, though longer-term improvements will require additional investment.
On Long Island, BPL is taking targeted steps to strengthen generation and reduce load shedding. Unlike other Family Islands with centrally located plants and balanced north-south feeders, Long Island’s plant is located further north, meaning southern areas can experience extended outages. BPL plans to install a temporary generating unit near Scrub Hill to supply the entire island during load-shedding situations.
BPL is also installing new generation units on Cat Island and the Abaco Cays. On Cat Island, a new unit will supplement two existing units that had suffered failures. In Abaco, new generators are being deployed on Man o’ War Cay, Hope Town, and Guana Cay to provide relief and reduce dependency on the Wilson City power station.
Eleuthera has seen significant development and rising power demand. BPL executives outlined current and future projects for the island and Harbor Island. On Harbor Island, the government has signed a PPA with Outlier Company for 6.75 MW of LNG generation, and the island will also be part of a smart metering pilot project. Network upgrades and tree trimming have improved outage response and fault detection.
For Eleuthera, the mainline comprises 34 MW from Hatchet Bay and Rock Sound stations, with an additional 3.6 MW under installation, bringing total capacity to 37.6 MW. Peak demand ranges from 12–14 MW during summer months. Short-term plans include repairs and overhauls of Hatcher Bay and Roxanne units, with rental generators supporting periods of shortfall. Mid- and long-term plans involve new PPAs providing 19.91 MW LNG, 8.7 MW solar, and 10 MW battery storage, substation upgrades, and reduced reliance on rental units by mid-2026. These initiatives aim to increase capacity, improve reliability, and modernize grid operations for both islands.
Seymour also explained why electricity bills rise in summer and how government support helps mitigate costs:
“The base rate for 0–200 kWh is effectively zero—you only pay for fuel. Our fuel charge, which passes through the actual cost of generating electricity, rises in the summer because demand increases. For example, New Providence’s load climbs from roughly 100 MW in winter to 290 MW in summer, requiring more expensive diesel generation. Family Island generation also runs on diesel, which increases costs.
“The government is providing relief by holding the fuel charge steady through September. For consumption under 800 kWh, the fuel charge is 18.4 c/kWh; above 800 kWh, it’s 21.4 c/kWh, below the actual cost. This ensures customers know what they will pay while the government subsidizes the difference. Naturally, consumption rises in summer due to higher temperatures, but this initiative helps mitigate the financial impact.”
