The BVI Electricity Corporation has one message for residents: Prepare for power if you don’t have it already.
As of this week, 98 percent of Tortola’s electricity grid has been restored, according to BVIEC General Manager Leroy Abraham. On Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, 95 percent of work has been completed, Mr. Abraham said.
The BVIEC said electricity should be fully restored to the territory by March.
Customers in several areas were asked to make preparations for reconnecting to the grid, including Belmont Estate; Steele Point; Little Thatch; Windy Hill; Romney Park; Havers Estate; Tredfall; Doty Estate; Shannon Estate; Sage Mountain; Luck Hill; Brewers Bay; Mount Healthy; Georges North Side; Fat Hogs Bay; Paraquita Bay; Hodges Creek and Sophie Bay.
Mr. Abraham told residents to seek the advice of a certified electrical inspector and make sure that all generators are disconnected from the main electrical line. Following those guidelines helps to ensure the safety of both residents and linespeople, he said.
Despite a light at the end of the tunnel, finally reconnecting customers is contingent on the arrival of certain necessary materials, the general manager added.
“We’ve been awaiting transformers, and most of the overhead main distribution has been built with preparations for the transformers already being made,” he said. “Thankfully, transformers arrived [Feb. 17] and they’ve been just dispatched so that we can start installing easily.”
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