The Bahamas Grid Company Announces Initial Progress on $130 Million Power Grid Upgrade
Significant Progress Made on Power Grid Upgrade in New Providence
The Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) has recently unveiled its initial results following a groundbreaking investment of $130 million aimed at modernizing the electric grid in New Providence. In a mere three months since the project kick-off, this ambitious initiative is already yielding notable improvements in energy reliability for residents and businesses alike.
Infrastructure Enhancements Underway
BGC's dedicated team has been fervently working on various upgrades across the region. Achievements thus far include the installation and replacement of 80 new overhead distribution poles and the enhancement of 56,000 feet of cabling. Furthermore, over 20 miles of primary voltage circuit have also been balanced to optimize energy distribution.
To cater to increasing demand and bolster the grid’s resilience, 3,800 feet of underground cable has been laid, alongside the addition of 18 new service connections. Collectively, these early upgrades are set to benefit approximately 6,000 customers, marking crucial steps towards fortifying the energy network on the island.
In terms of transmission capabilities, BGC has installed 105 new steel transmission poles and removed over 83,000 feet of high-capacity conductors. In an effort to ensure stability, the company has also provided more than 1,100 hours of emergency response support to stabilize the grid and tackle pressing service demands. J. Eric Pike, the Board Chair of BGC, emphasized, “This is about building a stronger and smarter energy grid for the Bahamas. Each pole we establish and every line we upgrade brings us closer to making reliable energy the norm, rather than the exception.”
Smart Grid Technology Implementation
In conjunction with physical upgrades, BGC is championing the deployment of cutting-edge smart grid technology aimed at increasing overall automation and responsiveness throughout the island. So far, 47 PulseCloser IntelliRupter® fault switches have been strategically installed across New Providence. These innovative devices excel at detecting and isolating faults in real-time, significantly reducing both the duration and scale of outages.
As a testament to these advancements, BGC has successfully avoided 182 potential outages this year, which could have affected over 170,000 service interruptions among the 48,000 customers living in the impacted circuits. The percentage reductions are noteworthy too, with total outages down by 73% and potential service interruptions reduced by 86% for customers in 2025.
Mei Shibata, BGC's CEO, commented on the initiative:
Topics Energy）
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