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Island wide power shut down hits the Virgin Islands

December 11th, 2016 | Tags: BVIEC Power Outage electricity blackout
Main Street on Tortola in darkness this evening, December 11, 2016. Photo: VINO
Waterfront Drive on Tortola was not in total darkness this evening due to some businesses having their own generators. Photo: VINO
Waterfront Drive on Tortola was not in total darkness this evening due to some businesses having their own generators. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- At about 6:00 P.M. today December 11, 2016 the islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke faced a sudden power outage.

It is not clear what has caused the island wide shut down of the power grid. The state owned BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) operates the public power supply and has just invested millions of dollars to improve on the system, a project that is ongoing.

Power supply in Anegada, the only island with its power plant not connected to the central Tortola lines, is reported to be up and running.

It is unclear when power will be restored to the affected customers.

BVIEC officials could not be reached for comment as of time of publication.

52 Responses to “Island wide power shut down hits the Virgin Islands”

  • Limbo (11/12/2016, 19:50) Like (7) Dislike (16) Reply
    oh boy what a thing but I will not blame the NDP as power went off under the VIP
    • Humming bird (11/12/2016, 21:40) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply

      But this is 2016 man! Enough is enough! All the money theif from the cruise pier could have gone to ensuring that the people of the territory have the necessary resources. Too many things the ppl letting slide.

  • Lawd (11/12/2016, 20:04) Like (61) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is what we have come too - absolutely nothing in our country working properly: from water to electricity and raw sewage running all over our streets?

    Not even the politicians we elected to run the affairs of our country working properly.

    We in bails of trouble in this place!
    • wow (11/12/2016, 20:35) Like (17) Dislike (28) Reply
      Yep becausw this doesnt happen anywhere else in the world and its not as if theyre working on it with the new engines currentlu being installed and will be commissioned shortly. You all just sit and wait for some shit to moan about.
      • tt (11/12/2016, 21:33) Like (24) Dislike (4) Reply
        Lmao IT DOESN'T. I been going to school in the US for 3 years and I don't experience any of this nonsense. Where else you know power always off and it never have water and raw sewage running into the streets? From chatting piss buh if it don't happen anywhere else
      • das (11/12/2016, 23:05) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
        It doesn't happen in first world countries though.
    • @Lawd (12/12/2016, 03:04) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
      Don't forget the terrible internet service which is a now necessity.
    • resident (12/12/2016, 08:31) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!!!!
  • Shameful. (11/12/2016, 20:10) Like (38) Dislike (6) Reply
    How did the BVI get like this. From the Richest Island in the Caribbean in the 80s to these shameful and embarrassing situations.? My Heart is broken for my lovely BVI. I'm feeling shame.. Where are the new generators.?
  • Jack B Nimble. (11/12/2016, 20:16) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm loss for word, shock, in disbelief. That in 2016 the BVI would have Island wide block out. Make it more disturbing for more than 3 hrs. OMG .
    • Ms. Diva (11/12/2016, 20:50) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
      Wondering the same thing Jack B. Nimble. This is the age of technology. Everytime you turn around, power is out. My utility bill is almost $400.00 every month and I expect to not have this problem. Ms. Diva was in the middle of doing some online shopping at Michael Koors and of course, click, there goes the power.
      • unqualified operators (12/12/2016, 09:52) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
        Ms. Diva: The problem is that there is nobody qualified to operate and maintain the equipment we currently have or the new equipment being installed. I know this first hand!
        we can buy all the fancy new equipment we want but without proper CERTIFED personal to run and maintain it we are in trouble.
    • ..... (12/12/2016, 13:10) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Jack B Nimble,

      I won't say because we are in 2016 there can't be island wide black outs, but at least let it be because of severe weather or some other unforeseen reason. Not just out of the blue, for no good and acceptable reason..
  • People Talk. that's what they do (11/12/2016, 20:28) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    I heard a talk from an associate in Miami that the BVI Politicians got Real Money they wonder where they getting all that money from.? I'm not the only one that heard it. It's a talk going around BVI people got lots of money,,.Lots of Cut backs. Percentage return on projects. Wow. Hope they are not spreading rumors on BVI Politicians and the BVI people..I can say more With half million dollars facfs. I will leave it as a rumor for now.
    • AND? (12/12/2016, 10:04) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      Ok, so what the hell does this have to do with an island wide black out? Guess you were just bursting to share it...
  • zzzzzzzz (11/12/2016, 20:47) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where is the action man?
    • Really (11/12/2016, 21:13) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      They don't care about the people or country shooting armed robberies .assault . Murders .attempted murder and guess what not one word from them or the queen rep i give up
    • ; (11/12/2016, 22:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      you mean da prince of darkness.
    • Zzzzzzzzz. Ur answer (12/12/2016, 03:23) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Hmmmm. Where is the Action man? Good question.. I think the Politicians have no concerns. When current goes. They enjoy their free current running generators.. While mosquitoes bite up our children.. Where is the Action man..ooh ? he us working hard trying to get the current on.
    • DWL (12/12/2016, 07:47) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      He is promoting one mart sales!!! Dwl
  • shark (11/12/2016, 21:03) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    In what year did we had electricty here in the virgin islands and how many consumer's did had electricty.we know where we came from.but were very unclear as to where we are going.
  • VINCY MAN (11/12/2016, 21:25) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is when the boats coming with d dr*g$....y'all stopping play blind...once their is a island wide block out. SHOT LICK
  • Music (11/12/2016, 21:58) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    I doubt it was the generators. More likely distribution somewhere. Main switch, crucial cable down etc. There was an almost complete blackout in London two days ago. So we are not alone!
    • Limey E11 (12/12/2016, 11:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      key word in your statement 'almost', I am sure the UK power authority would not have been to keen on a almost 4 hour blackout in the square mile of as a matter of fact any entire borough! So in a sense - we are alone! I don't hear/see this transpiring in any of our relatively close neighbors or in the Leeward islands! Poor management from the top down with severe skills/training gaps that are evident; although I agree that it was mainly possibly due to a switch/transformer failure/fault or downing (by vehicle) or a main distribution line.
      • Hush (13/12/2016, 07:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        I've lived in England and I've been outta power for 6 hours More than once a year so please stfu.
  • AJ (11/12/2016, 22:00) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    We all are hoping for those generators but are u prepared for the fuel costs that are coming along with those fuel costs
    Well today I went to buy gas at a gas station and put $20 worth of gas in a 5gallon container the pump said that I got 5.8gallons of gas but u know the funny thing was I had less than 4.5 gallons of gas in the 5 gallon container
    When we hear of people robbing at gun point we get nervous but we should not we need to get nervous at these sho are robing us without a mask and we know who they are and does nothing about it especially our politicians
    • ..... (12/12/2016, 10:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Something needs to be done about this AJ. This place is just a big free for all with no standards or regulations.
    • Yes (12/12/2016, 13:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hear this joke right.... I went to a gas station which sells for $3.30 a gallon, put $20 gas in a jug, took it to a certain level. Went to another gas station a few days later which was selling for $2.99 a gallon. You know that gas went to about the same level in the jug??, maybe even a little lower..... I said well look shit for me.... We are on our own in this place buddy... We up shit street..
    • Music (12/12/2016, 13:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I have often wondered about this. It is a confusion between US and Imperial gallons, let alone litres. 1 US gallon is 5/6 of an Imperial gallon. What are car fuel gauges calibrated in? What gallonage are fuel containers sold in? Which system are our gas pumps calibrated in? We could end this problem once and for all by switching to LITRES (note spelling).
  • ndp no good (11/12/2016, 22:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    2 and half hours later my power is back in Zion Hill SMH
  • wize up (11/12/2016, 22:38) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    From time i small they were power outages; water issues and sewage problems(that was in the 60s) we are now in 2016 and these problems still exist: should you want to get political, the Virgin Island Party were most the administration in power and back then this territory had good money(simply take 45 years from 2016 and you will see how long we had these issues in the British Virgin Islands....dont be fooled poor infrastructure did not start 5 years ago)
    • @ wize up (12/12/2016, 13:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      And the founding members of the NDP were once VIP strong ones.......we need a complete change
  • Hmm (11/12/2016, 22:52) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    what did they expect was going to happen when they plug in the round about lights to our backward systems?
    • Bandit (12/12/2016, 14:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      lol I was thinking the same thing. Those light trip the entire system lmao
  • tretretrete (12/12/2016, 06:27) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    Based on the tone of the blog's and the caliber of intellect displayed,, this could be an act of terrorism by the VIP. The libelous
    Propaganda since their well deserved defeat has further sunk the desperate me me wanna be a premier into deeper desperation. And do they will continue to be losers.
  • md (12/12/2016, 07:25) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Add lime to the list my service was messed up all night.
  • wow (12/12/2016, 08:46) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    please bviec keep it on for christmas this year, last year was a disgrace
  • Fuming (12/12/2016, 09:57) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Frig this, I'm moving to Anegada.......
  • Grumpy (12/12/2016, 10:49) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just after Rotary lit the circle?? Maybe?? Surge was worse than outage.
  • Kermit (12/12/2016, 11:20) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Leroy and his crew does a good job the problem is Mark and the NDP
  • Weights & Measure (12/12/2016, 11:54) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    The issue of weights & measure has been on my mind for over a decade as I too have been to the pumps and seen that they are calibrated to give you less than what you pay for. In the 'world class' and developed world there are departments that go around and verify that the weights and measures are compliant with that of the government and international standards - not here in the BVI and this is going on unfettered for far to long and not one politician has raised this issue - maybe Mr. Fahie can?
  • Afu (12/12/2016, 14:44) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVIEC- please don't make this a habit. I am very afraid of the dark. I can't see what's crawling on the ground outside.
  • Customer (12/12/2016, 15:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dear: Mr./Ms. Electric Company, I just paid you $382.50 a couple of days ago. Please don't mess up the Christmas Holidays for us. My Parents is flying in for the Christmas Holidays from Arizona
    and I hope that you do what you have to do to make sure that this does not affect myself and your other customers during the Holidays. If I have to invest in a generator, I will be submitting half of the bill to you for reimbursement.
    • Yes (12/12/2016, 18:42) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
      My parents are, not my parents is....... And please do invest in a generator. I have to get one myself. I can't take no more of this.
      • 'Mmmmmm (13/12/2016, 03:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @LOL, it is not that serious... The best writers in the world makes grammar errors.
      • Scary Mary (13/12/2016, 12:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        It is a rather delicate issue to correct someone's use of language or their grammar. Since you feel it is acceptable to do so, I will mention that your grammar could use a little polishing as well.

        "I can't take no more of this", should read: "I can't take ANY more of this." :)
  • experienced (12/12/2016, 19:56) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I lived in much harsher places as far as mother nature goes, than the BVI. Even at 55 below zero this kind of crap
    from a central power supply never goes on this much - unless a major earthquake or act of nature, at least at the
    intensity of an extreme hurricane. What goes on in BVI is plain cuckoo! Everyone, every building, every home
    should have its own power generator if electricity is used. Best to stick with gas cooking, or fire. Don't put every
    last darn thing on outside electricity. That is plain retarded!
  • Zika next (13/12/2016, 09:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Without fans and a/c those mosquitos having some good munchies. Next stop PEEBLES for testing to see if you have Zika! Oops on lockdown. And at least a 2-3 hour wait to even get a test. You will definitely see about 12 people too that are only there to shuffle you to next room to wait. Most of the staff looking busy doing nothing. What a waste in a country with only 40,000 and a staff of thousands to tend to at the most 500 in a day!! BS for sure. Remember in the old hospital you got through MUCH faster! And the government BROKE! Too funny. Keep those generators running.
    • got that right (13/12/2016, 20:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      little itty bitty country can't power 40,000 population. Sad. Yet millions coming from financial industry. Tourist industry, cruise ship passengers but not enough power, water, good roads! Shame!
  • JEALOUSY (13/12/2016, 22:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Jealousy is a bad thing. New York City had a state wide power outage in the last decade.

    Build up the BVI with your words not tear it down. No one was sent to call you to live here. If you can't speak positively in the midst of difficulties that are faced by all countries, you may have overstayed so you can pack up and leave.


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