The BVI Electricity Corporation has restored 80 percent of the territory’s electrical grid and hopes to have 95 percent back by the end of March, according BVIEC officials.
Areas still without power include Great Camanoe; sections of Hodges Creek; Paraquita Bay; Sophie Bay; sections of Brewers Bay and the surrounding areas; Diamond Estate; Meyers Estate; portions of Threadfall Estate; portions of Long Bay; Carrot Bay; Belmont Estate; the Sage Mountain area; and Windy Hill, explained Henry Creque, the BVIEC deputy general manager.
Anegada has been fully restored, Virgin Gorda has been “effectively completed,” and Jost Van Dyke is “almost 100 percent” back, Mr. Creque added.
Overseas linesmen continue to assist the BVIEC in various part of the territory, including 38 from Jamaica, about 30 from Canada, four from Bermuda and three or four from St. Lucia, the deputy general manager said.
Mr. Creque noted that the statutory body is still dealing with difficulties importing materials fast enough to be installed.
The overall grid currently is operating at about 17 megawatts of generating capacity, he added.
Prior to Hurricane Irma, the territory’s peak electrical demand was about 34 megawatts, and in mid-November Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool said the BVIEC was generating some 13.2 megawatts.
“I’d like to thank the public and those still without electricity for their patience,” Mr. Creque said this week.
{fcomment}