electricity

For many Bahamians, power outages mean hot, miserable nights without air conditioning or cooling fans, food spoilage, a small business losing revenue, trying to keep children comfortable, and elderly individuals sitting in the heat waiting for the lights to turn back on.

As load shedding and extended outages continue across New Providence and the Family Islands, when the power goes out, who carries the cost?

The Bahamas Power and Light has stated that demand is increasing, the system is under pressure, the equipment has failed and the infrastructure upgrades are ongoing. But for consumers experiencing repeated outages, who pays the price while the system is being so-called repaired?

In recent days, residents across New Providence have experienced extended power interruptions as BPL says it is managing equipment issues, circuit overloads and rotational power supply.

BPL has attributed some outages to peak electricity demand overwhelming parts of the system, while other interruptions, they say, have been linked to equipment damage and repairs. The company has also pointed to ongoing infrastructure improvements aimed at creating a more reliable electricity network.

But for consumers, it’s the length of time power was turned off, damaged appliances, businesses losing money and a bill that does not reflect the service they received.

One of the biggest frustrations among consumers is the lack of compensation.

When electricity fails, customers still have obligations— bills must be paid, businesses must continue operating and families still have expenses.

When service interruptions happen repeatedly, customers should be compensated when a utility fails to provide reliable service.

Many countries have systems where utilities can face penalties or provide credits when service standards are not met.

Energy reform has been one of the Davis administration’s major promises since taking office in 2021— LNG agreements, renewable energy projects, transmission and distribution upgrades and restructuring of BPL.

The transfer of BPL’s transmission and distribution assets to Bahamas Grid Company was presented as part of a broader effort to modernize the system.

BPL officials said major network upgrades are nearing completion, but the public is still experiencing an unstable power grid.

Minister of Energy, Utilities and Aviation JoBeth Coleby-Davis has described the interruptions as part of the “growing pains” of building a more reliable energy system.

For the person sitting in a dark house, sweating in the summer heat, it does not remove the burden.

The Bahamas has been talking about energy reform for years. BPL still has the responsibility of balancing the cost of fixing a broken system with protecting the people living through the repairs.

When the lights go out, Bahamians are left carrying the bill.

For years, the promise has been made for a more reliable power grid, a modern energy system, and an end to the cycle of blackouts that has frustrated residents and businesses for decades.

But this weekend, as Bahamians across New Providence and the Family Islands experienced power outages during some of the hottest season of the year, many Bahamians found themselves asking the same question: After millions of dollars in upgrades and years of promises, why are we still sitting in the dark?

The latest outages came as Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) implemented load shedding on New Providence, citing ongoing work connected to a new transformer installation at the Fire Trail Substation.

BPL said the transformer was installed and energized for load testing. But for residents, the explanation did not change the experience: Homes were without electricity, businesses were disrupted and families tried to stay cool in extreme summer heat.

Energy reform has been one of the major promises of the Davis administration.

The government has pointed to several initiatives: LNG agreements, solar power purchase agreements, infrastructure upgrades and the creation of Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) to manage transmission and distribution assets.

A major part of that plan was a $130 million network upgrade project on New Providence, designed to strengthen the transmission and distribution system.

Officials recently said the project was approximately 95 percent complete.

But if the system is almost upgraded, why is it still so fragile?

Summer is when electricity demand rises, air conditions run longer, businesses rely heavily on consistent power and families, especially elderly residents and toddlers feel the impact of outages more severely.

The government has argued that delays affected the timeline of the upgrades.

Minister of Energy JoBeth Coleby-Davis pointed to the March 21 shooting death of a Pike Electric worker, saying the incident delayed the project by about eight weeks.

She said the original timeline expected completion before the peak summer demand period.

Now, the country is experiencing the consequences of completing major work during a period when the grid is under maximum pressure.

While Nassau often receives the most attention, Family Island residents have continued to battle their own electricity challenges.

Eleuthera and Abaco have experienced repeated outages, including load shedding and equipment failures. For some communities, a blackout is part of daily life.

Residents have waited for promised energy projects, including microgrids and renewable energy solutions, but many are still asking when those changes will actually arrive.

The energy problem in the Bahamas did not begin overnight. Aging infrastructure, high fuel costs, maintenance challenges and system reliability issues have existed for years.

The Davis administration came into office promising energy reform. Now, midway through its term, the public is looking for results. Because when the bill comes, Bahamians pay, and when the power goes out, Bahamians suffer.

When will residents see meaningful progress in power supply?

Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party Fred Mitchell condemned the government corporation Bahamas Power and Light for shutting-off power to thousands of homes for failure to pay overdue bills.

The big picture

Bahamas Power and Light disconnected 8,741 residents in New Providence and Family Islands for non-payments. The corporation says it is ‘strap for cash’ as it struggles to pay its staff, fuel, and equipment in the middle of a pandemic.

Why it matters

Thousands of people have been unemployed since the onset of the pandemic, which means many families cannot afford to pay electricity bills. When the electricity is shut-off, children in the home are unable to attend virtual school.

The PLP’s reaction

Fred Mitchell, the opposition’s chairman said the corporation’s decision to disconnect electricity from thousands of homes is unjustifiable. In a press statement, he called on the government-run corporation to stop disconnections.

“How could they in good conscience with the following facts before them countenance and justify such actions by a public corporation: covid is rampant; unemployment is at record levels – near 50 percent; children are at home who can’t go to school with many attending school on the government’s virtual platform; money is in short supply; NIB assistance has been reduced, and the little food that people get must be protected from being spoiled.