Energy Minister: Power Interruptions Tied to System Upgrades

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – After weeks of power interruptions impacted thousands of customers, the energy minister is offering an explanation.

Jobeth Colbey-Davis – Minister, Energy, Aviation, and Utilities

“ Most of the outages are attributed to the upgrades, and one part of it is the fact that we are actually working in a time that was not a part of our project timeline.”

Thousands of residents have been frustrated by recent power interruptions across New Providence.

However, according to Energy Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis those outages are largely the result of the construction of a state of the art $130M power substation in the Big Pond community.

During a site visit with the media, the minister said the project hit a major setback after the death of American Pike employee Cody Costillo, delaying construction by about eight weeks.

Jobeth Colbey-Davis – Minister, Energy, Aviation, and Utilities

“ Because of that, we are now having to complete our upgrades in a time period that also have extreme heat. So what we’re seeing is some of our circuits has to be offline for the upgrades to be completed.”

“Because of that, we have many of our areas operating where they would normally be with two circuits, they’re operating under one circuit.”

Officials say the facility, which is about 95% complete, is designed to strengthen the country’s transmission network by allowing power to be redirected during outages, weather events or other system disturbances.

BPL Executive Chair Christina Alston explains:

Christina Alston – Executive Chairman, Bahamas Power and Light

“ You would see exactly the same type of substation all over Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas. And the reason these particular types of substations are built, is to split up the transmission lines so that we can divert power where it needs to go.”

The Big Pond substation forms part of a wider upgrade of New Providence’s power infrastructure.

Bahamas Grid Company CEO Dario McKenzie says the facility will serve as a critical hub in the island’s electricity network, helping operators better manage and distribute power across the system.

Dario McKenzie – CEO, Bahamas Grid Company

“ The purpose for these stations is to improve reliability. You improve reliability by improving the way how we can operate and control, and divert load on the system. And so that is the role that these substations play.”

When asked how long costumers can expect to continue experiencing these outages, the energy minister had this response.

Jobeth Colbey-Davis – Minister, Energy, Aviation, and Utilities

“  As we go through the next couple of weeks, there may be some inconveniences, but we want the public to understand that this is really a part of us getting them to a place of where it’s very reliable.”