#Bahamas #Nassau #Bahamas Grid Company #New Providence #IntelliRupter

Reliability Enhancements in New Providence

The Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) has recently announced remarkable advancements in the reliability of the power grid across New Providence. These improvements are largely attributed to the Foundational Grid Upgrade Project, which is nearing completion and is set to be finalized by the end of April 2026. The project, which entails a substantial investment of $130 million, has already demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing outages and enhancing service quality for residents and businesses in the area.

Performance Metrics of the Upgrade

Analysis of performance data from the end of 2025 reveals a significant decrease in grid interruptions. When compared to historical data from 2020 to 2024, BGC has achieved a 45% reduction in outage frequency and a 35% reduction in outage duration even during major weather events, such as tropical cyclones. Regular day-to-day grid reliability has shown even greater improvements, with a 47% decrease in outage frequency and a 46% decrease in outage duration.

These substantial improvements are underpinned by targeted infrastructure upgrades and the deployment of advanced smart grid technologies that were introduced as part of the upgrade project. One such innovative solution is the IntelliRupter device, which has effectively managed 47 outages at the breaker level, preventing over 25,800 customer interruptions. The device’s automatic reclosing functionality is expected to have further prevented an additional 185 outages that could have impacted around 205,000 customers.

Significant Infrastructure Developments

Since the last update in Fall 2025, construction milestones for the Foundational Grid Upgrade Project have continued to be met. Notable achievements include:

• - Installation of New Transmission Poles: A total of 193 new steel transmission poles have been erected, replacing aging wooden infrastructure. These new installations are designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, boosting resilience against severe weather.
• - Upgraded Transmission Cabling: The project has involved the reconductoring of 260,000 feet of transmission cable, now featuring double-capacity wiring to accommodate anticipated load growth and new energy generation capacities.
• - New Substations Under Construction: The establishment of three new substations is currently underway, which will improve the system's protection, expedite restoration responses, and provide the ability to reroute electricity to prevent widespread outages.
• - Expanded Fiber Monitoring: Moreover, the installation of 174,000 feet of OPGW fiber has been completed to enhance remote monitoring capabilities, protection schemes, and real-time control over the grid.

Remarkably, these developments remain within budget and are currently progressing about 20% ahead of the original schedule.

Economic Impact and Future Outlook

The implications of these upgrades extend far beyond immediate reliability improvements. An economic impact analysis conducted by BGC indicates that preserving the reliability enhancements observed in 2025 over the projected 30-year lifespan of the grid assets could yield up to $1 billion in net present value savings for the New Providence economy. This economic benefit is anticipated to arise from reduced outage costs and an overall improvement in service continuity for residences and businesses alike.

As BGC's leadership and field teams continue to operate and maintain New Providence's transmission and distribution systems post-completion, ongoing maintenance of the grid will be crucial. The upgrades are expected not only to enhance power reliability but to also foster long-term economic growth for the region.

Through these efforts, BGC is committed to ensuring that the residents of New Providence experience enhanced power reliability and the associated economic benefits that come with it.