FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2025

BPL Plans $1.2 Million Investment to Strengthen Power Supply in South Long Island

Clarence Town, Long Island – Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd. (BPL) has announced plans to roll out a $1.2 million investment in a generator and transformer to significantly strengthen energy supply in south Long Island.

The announcement was made by BPL Chief Executive Officer, Toni Seymour, during a Town Hall Meeting held at the Clarence Town Community Centre on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

While candidly addressing the longstanding challenges of providing a consistent power supply to the island, Seymour assured residents that the company is committed to improvement. “Our work never stops. We work around the clock – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – and we understand what the challenges are,” Seymour said.

She noted that the core issue lies in the location of the existing power station.

“The challenge in Long Island is that the power station is not in the center of the island — it’s further north. Most Family Island installations have a centrally located power station with two feeders: one to the north and one to the south. Because Miller’s Power Station is so far north, if an issue arises, getting power from Miller’s to the Gordons settlement is virtually impossible — and that’s our reality.”

To address this, Seymour revealed that BPL has submitted a proposal to its Board of Directors for a $1.2 million investment in a new generator and transformer, to be installed south of Scrub Hill. “If we lose two engines, one engine may be able to power from Miller’s to Scrub Hill, but the rest of South Long Island remains in darkness until a second engine is restored. This investment will bring immediate relief to residents in the south and also reduce the strain on the engines at Miller’s Power Plant,” she explained.

Transitioning to Renewable Energy

In addition to this infrastructure proposal, BPL is continuing its push toward cleaner energy under its New Energy Era initiative. Seymour announced that Long Island is also in line for a 5-megawatt solar installation, accompanied by Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), as the utility company accelerates its transition toward sustainable power.

“All of the Family Islands will be receiving solar installations as part of the New Energy Era. We are building a more resilient and environmentally friendly utility for the future,” said Seymour.

The Town Hall Meeting, hosted by the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) and aired live during The Rundown with Clint Watson on ZNS, aimed to provide Long Island residents with information on accessing grant funding, business support, and strategies to reduce operational costs — particularly electricity bills.

Seymour used the opportunity to highlight BPL’s Small-Scale and Medium-Scale Renewable Generation Programs, which allow residential and commercial customers to reduce their bills through energy credits.

“If you install solar panels on your roof and receive approvals from URCA and the Ministry of Works, BPL will replace your meter. Any unused energy that you push back into the grid earns you credits on your electricity bill, paid at that month’s fuel surcharge rate,” Seymour explained. She added, “There is no cap on credits earned within the scale you apply for. Any energy you don’t consume but feed into the grid is credited automatically each month.”

As BPL awaits Board approval for the $1.2 million infrastructure upgrade, Seymour reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transparency, innovation, and delivering reliable service to Family Island communities.

“We are focused on solutions. We understand the frustrations, and we are doing the work to make power supply more consistent, more resilient, and more sustainable for all.”

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