BEC looking to purchase six new generators

Tue, Sep 16th 2014, 11:39 AM

Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Executive Chairman Leslie Miller said the corporation is preparing to purchase six new generators.
He said a team from BEC will travel to Florida today to begin the process.
Miller did not say how much the generators will cost the corporation.
"We are going to send our team to take a look at [them] to see if they can fit into our arsenal that we have," Miller told reporters.
"Apparently those engines are some of the engines we use in Abaco, Eleuthera [and] Long Island. And it's a good deal I understand.
"We are looking at it, the viability of having those engines in The Bahamas very shortly."
Earlier this month, three generators at the Clifton Pier Power Station failed, leading to rolling blackouts -- the latest in a series of countless power shortages this summer.
It took several days before BEC restored those generators, much to the frustration of many residents who were without power for hours.
As a result of the downed generators, the corporation was forced to rely on its Blue Hills plant, which Miller said would result in an increase in the fuel surcharge on customers' bills.
The corporation's public relations officer, Arnette Ingraham, has said the price increase is not expected to be prolonged.
However, she said prices are also dependent on the global price of fuel and whether the corporation can maintain its generators at Clifton Pier.
According to Miller, the Clifton Pier and Blue Hills Powers Stations were operating at their optimum as of yesterday .
"We are in good shape right now as far as generating [at] Blue Hills and Clifton," he said.
"...Right now, we are in excellent shape. Let us pray to God that we stay that way."
Asked whether there has been a decrease in power demand, Miller said as of last Thursday the temperature dropped leading to a decrease in demand.
However, over the weekend, residents in western New Providence reported outages for up to eight hours.
And yesterday morning and last night, several residents, particularly in eastern New Providence, reported outages.

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