BPL Reaffirms Commitment to Power Generation Upgrades on Mainland Eleuthera
- BPL on track to eliminate rental generation on Eleuthera by June 2026.
- Recent outages caused by severe weather, including lightning and a pole fire in South Eleuthera.
- Two new generation units tested Aug 30; awaiting critical parts this week.
- Hatchet Bay Power Station repairs ongoing and solar micro-grid development in progress.
- Harbour Island currently has stable surplus power supply sufficient for 5–7 years.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2025
NASSAU, The Bahamas — Bahamas Power and Light Company Limited (BPL) wishes to reassure consumers on mainland Eleuthera that meaningful progress is being made toward achieving our long-term energy goals. We remain firmly on track to meet our June 2026 target for the full discontinuation of rental generation on the island. This transition will usher in a new era of energy reliability, with a strengthened and resilient power network capable of meeting both present and future demand for Eleuthera and Harbour Island.
BPL acknowledges the recent interruptions in electricity supply in Central and South Eleuthera. These outages, which occurred over the past week, were primarily caused by severe weather conditions. According to Pedro Marcello, Regional Manager for the Southern Region, the inclement weather not only forced several generation units offline but also resulted in a pole fire that caused a prolonged outage from Rock Sound to Bannerman Town.
“While our crews are equipped to conduct some repairs during rainy conditions, safety protocols prevent them from working during lightning storms and other extreme weather events. Unfortunately, these conditions contributed to delayed response times, but the safety of our personnel remains our top priority as we work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.”
In addition to weather-related outages, BPL acknowledges that there have been sporadic and isolated power interruptions. In response, manpower is being increased on Eleuthera and infrastructure upgrades are being accelerated to enhance response times and improve reliability.
At a recent press briefing, Mr. Marcello outlined BPL’s ongoing plans: two new generation units were successfully tested on August 30 and are awaiting critical parts expected this weekend; repairs continue at the Hatchet Bay Power Station; and adjacent land is being developed for solar micro-grids to contribute to long-term sustainability.
“Our success in Harbour Island demonstrates the positive impact of these initiatives. The island currently enjoys a stable and surplus power supply, sufficient to meet demand for the next five to seven years, assuming nominal economic growth. We are working diligently to replicate that success on the mainland.”
Efforts are also ongoing to replace aging equipment and improve network reliability. BPL’s goal is to have all company-owned generation units on mainland Eleuthera fully operational by June 2026, eliminating the need for rental units. Once completed, synchronized generation across stations will reduce power shortfalls, minimize load shedding, and ensure a stronger, more resilient grid.
BPL remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable electricity to the residents and businesses of Eleuthera, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers as these essential upgrades continue.
Media Contact
Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd.Theodore E. Sealy, Director of Communications
TESealy@bplco.com
