NASSAU, BAHAMAS -Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis has announced a number of relief efforts which have been devised by Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) Company to address the shortfall in power generation supply in Eleuthera; she also revealed that BPL will provide a 50% rebate on the Base Rate for all residential and commercial customers in Eleuthera for July, which will be reflected on August bills.
Coleby-Davis, via a press statement issued Monday morning, admitted that Eleuthera has seen significant growth in the last several years which has led to increased demand on the power supply, however she provided a list of relief measures to be implemented by BPL to address the power generation woes.
“To address the challenges, BPL is making immediate improvements to boost the reliability of power. This includes adding 5MW of new power at Rock Sound Power Station and bringing in 6MW of temporary power to Hatchet Bay by September 2024,” she said.
“BPL is also performing essential maintenance at Hatchet Bay Power Station and upgrading the subsea cable to improve power distribution to North Eleuthera and Harbour Island.”
The statement continued, “Unfortunately, the generation capacity has not kept pace with growth on the island,” she said.
The Energy Minister further admitted that the electricity infrastructure on the island is advanced in age.
“The power generation at Rock Sound is now 28 years old, and this aging equipment is less efficient, more prone to breakdowns, and harder to maintain – all of which can lead to more frequent outages and less reliable service for Eleutherans,” the statement noted.
“The daily power cuts and electricity surges have inconvenienced scores of households and businesses. Eleutherans are justifiably frustrated and angry.”
Coleby-Davis said BPL will have long-term solutions coming online within the next 18 months, “including new permanent generation and solar energy, to ensure a more resilient and sustainable power supply for the communities of Eleuthera.”
She also stated that additional measures must be implemented to ensure BPL meets its deadlines, fulfill its commitments, and effectively communicate with consumers – especially those impacted by consistent and prolonged electricity interruption.
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