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‘Several instances’ of generators feeding back into power lines- Henry O. Creque

- implored residents to get a certified electrician & transfer switch when hooking generators directly to homes
Persons have been causing power lines to become live due to the incorrect installation of generators to their homes, according to Deputy General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), Mr Henry O. Creque. Photo: VINO/File
Deputy General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), Mr Henry O. Creque implored persons wishing to hook up their generators to their homes to get a licensed electrician to do the installation with a transfer switch and get it inspected by the Ministry of Communications and Works. Photo: Facebook
Deputy General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), Mr Henry O. Creque implored persons wishing to hook up their generators to their homes to get a licensed electrician to do the installation with a transfer switch and get it inspected by the Ministry of Communications and Works. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With the influx of generators to the Virgin Islands (UK) after Hurricane Irma destroyed power lines, transformers and poles, leaving the territory without electricity on September 6, 2017, there has always been the concern of safety, especially the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and incorrectly connecting generators to homes and causing the power to feed back into the lines of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC).

Thankfully, there have been no reports of carbon monoxide poisoning reaching this newsroom; however, persons have been causing power lines to become live due to the incorrect installation of generators to their homes.

“We have had several instances of persons hooking up generators incorrectly and the power feeding back into the lines,” Deputy General Manager of BVIEC, Mr Henry O. Creque said in an update by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on November 6, 2017.

Mr Henry cautioned that incorrectly connecting generators to homes can be extremely dangerous.

“It can cause fatalities, not just to our workers and the workers of our sister utilities but to our residents, including children.

“Because lines are on the ground, you can have a generator in your home hooked up incorrectly and it can energise the wrong lines and our children could be playing around those lines,”

Mr Creque implored persons to either hook up their generators just to an outlet or strip; however, if persons wished to hook up their generators to their homes they should ensure to get a licensed electrician to do the installation with a transfer switch and get it inspected by the Ministry of Communications and Works.

6 Responses to “‘Several instances’ of generators feeding back into power lines- Henry O. Creque”

  • watch it (10/11/2017, 16:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is serious it happened in st Thomas
  • i knew it (10/11/2017, 20:03) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I knew this would happen. I hooked up mines just to an outlet so I can just my fridge and little light in my house. I didn't do the meter thing. Thanks Mr creque.
    • island man (11/11/2017, 06:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I believe you should ask an electrician to look at it. Your explanation doesn't sound right. Trust me !!!
  • island man (10/11/2017, 20:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let's ask the electrician8to remove completely the electricity service connection from the main switch before making any generator connection.
    After removing the electricity service wire ensure the ends of the wires are insulated or cap properly with insulated wire nuts and band with electrical tape after.
    However ensure such work is done by an electrician.
    Don't forget to leave running generators away from your house. Gas is dangerous as well as carbon monoxide.
  • E. Leonard (10/11/2017, 21:53) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a deadly practice that can kill linemen working feverishly on the transmission system to restore power to the territory as quickly as possible. Linemen need the assurance and confidence that working on a line is not a sudden death sentence. BVIEC needs to be every where ie, on radio, television, in electronic and paper periodicals, knocking on doors……..etc educating and asking residents to desist from this dangerous practice. There should and must be seriously consequences for deliberately engaging in this dangerous practice.

    Working with electricity is inherently dangerous and it does not need to be made more so by this dangerous practice. Though the practice may not be a deliberate or a premeditated action to kill someone, linemen can die instantly from the practice. Does anyone need this on his/her conscience? Avoid it! It only takes a few milliamps to clamp one’s heart and death occurs. It does not take much for one to be electrocuted.

    Keep linemen alive so that they can complete their important work of restoring power and getting back to their families and friends. Having a cold drink of water or running a fan or operating a washing machine or turning on lights or looking at TV or charging cell phones is not worth a life. Life is much more valuable, is it not?
  • Marie (12/11/2017, 10:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    People should just get a power strip for now so our electricians don’t get killed. This is a temporary situation and people have to realize they can’t just be for themselves. All we need now is a refrigerator and light for now. Come on BVI, let’s all help in our time of crisis.


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