FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2026

New Providence, The Bahamas — Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd. (BPL) has established itself as a leader across the Caribbean in geospatial development, receiving special recognition from Spatial Innovation Limited (SIL) in acknowledgment of the company’s leadership in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital grid modernization across The Bahamas.

The recognition highlights BPL’s growing investment in GIS technology as a foundational pillar of its New Energy Era, supporting smarter infrastructure, improved outage management, and the rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) nationwide.

Hopeton Ferguson, Vice President of Strategic Solutions at SIL, praised BPL’s commitment to digital advancement and regional leadership.“We are here with the wonderful team at BPL to show our appreciation for the partnership we have cultivated over many years in advancing geospatial development. The work BPL is doing is remarkable, not only for The Bahamas but for the wider Caribbean.”

BPL recently established a dedicated GIS Department to accelerate its digital infrastructure buildout. The department is tasked with mapping, validating, and maintaining accurate network data, a critical component in enabling smart grid functionality and supporting the successful deployment of advanced metering systems.

One recent success of the GIS Department is the soft launch of its innovative online Service Hub ahead of Tropical Storm Imelda in September 2025. The user-friendly, web-based platform, the first of its kind among utilities in The Bahamas, was designed to help consumers across The Bahamas create geotagged storm-related power outage and infrastructure damage reports in real time. The soft launch was well received, with over 400 consumers using the web-based portal.

Scottie Brown, Manager of BPL’s GIS Department, emphasized the long-term impact of this investment. “Building a digital twin of our network allows us to integrate outage management systems, SCADA systems, and AMI platforms seamlessly,” Brown said. “This integration means we will know in real time when and where outages occur and better understand potential causes, empowering our teams to respond more effectively and efficiently.”

Kevin Gilbert, BPL Director of Engineering, Planning, and Facilities, applauded his team for their hard work and dedication, describing them as trailblazers in the company’s modernization journey.

“This recognition puts us on the map and allows other Caribbean islands to see that we’re moving forward and doing what needs to be done to better serve our consumers,” Gilbert said. “As we continue to move forward, they can follow us; we want to continue to be pace setters.”

BPL’s GIS advancement directly supports its $90 million grid modernization initiative, which includes the rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure funded through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Together, these initiatives are designed to improve reliability, enhance transparency, and empower consumers with greater visibility and control over their electricity usage.

As BPL continues to transition toward cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy solutions under its New Energy Era, the company remains committed to regional collaboration and technological leadership that benefits consumers throughout The Bahamas.