During Hurricane Frances in September 2004, massive salt-water flooding and extensive poll damage significantly impaired Grand Bahama Power Company’s main steam plant and infrastructure and the damage resulted in power outages that lasted over a two-month period.
The company says it will be investing more than $15 million to fund infrastructure improvements that will enhance customer service and strengthen the power system against future hurricanes.
The company notes in a statement that hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004 and Wilma in 2005, and major tropical storm Katrina in August 2005 have stretched it to the limits.
According to the statement, GBPC has incurred US$14 million in property damages and another US$4.4 million in lost revenues.
Despite these heavy losses, the company is making the significant cash investment to improve delivery performance, according to president and CEO David Dunbar.
With an active hurricane season forecasted for 2006, the company said its goal continues to be providing reliable power and quality customer service while balancing shareholder value.
“We have invested more than $120 million in the company over the past 12 years, and we believe that it is the best interest of our customers and ultimately, shareholders, to continue to invest in improving the power system on Grand Bahama,” Mr. Dunbar said.
The company noted that its power generation and distribution system is a “stand alone” system.
Because it is not connected to any other transmission, distribution or generation system, it is, and will continue to be vulnerable to storm damage, the statement said.
“GBPC is continually upgrading its system and has implemented best practices and procedures to meet weather challenges, including replacing more than 2,000 of the poles on its systems and installing a Geographical Information System (GIS) that speeds up maintenance schedules and improves service restoration time.”
As was the case with many other businesses in Grand Bahama, the nagging and lingering effects of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne continued to create a challenge for the power company, according to officials.
During Hurricane Frances in September 2004, massive salt-water flooding and extensive poll damage significantly impaired the company’s main steam plant and infrastructure and the damage resulted in power outages that lasted over a two-month period.
After the storms, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and its group of companies worked with utility consumers allowing those hard hit by the storms some leniency in the payment of bills.
The Bahama Journal
