Energy Minister Joberth Coleby-Davis attributed the frequent power outages across New Providence to the ongoing infrastructure upgrades under Bahamas Power and Light’s Summer Readiness Program. Speaking in the House of Assembly today, she insisted that these disruptions are a necessary part of the improvements.
“Summer is the season of maximum energy demand and minimum margin for error,” she noted. “The Summer Readiness Program is not merely a technical checklist for our electricity companies but a commitment to the people they serve. While progress is being made, some service interruptions will still occur.”
She explained that these outages are expected as essential foundational work is completed across New Providence.
“In some areas, electrical loads that are normally shared between two circuits are temporarily being supported by just one while construction is ongoing. This added demand can strain sections of the network and heighten the likelihood of interruptions,” she added.
Coleby-Davis likened the effort to “renovating a home while still living in it,” acknowledging that while careful planning can minimize inconvenience, it cannot eliminate all challenges of upgrading infrastructure while maintaining service.
In several areas across New Providence, outages lasted as long as eight hours.
“Our system operators, control center teams, and field crews Crews are working continuously to safely manage a grid that is serving customers even as it undergoes modernization,” Coleby-Davis said.
“Every action we take is guided by a single goal: providing a stronger and more dependable electricity system for the people of The Bahamas.”
She added: “I’m not here to make excuses. Criticizing, bashing, and tearing things down is easy. But transforming our energy sector is a continual process of improvement, and this government’s priority is to make it more affordable, more reliable, and more sustainable.”
