Power flows faster than anticipated

Friday, October 1, 2004

As the Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) continues to restore its power lines, growing numbers of customers are gradually being reconnected to the electricity supply. Most of those who have been reconnected are in the George Town area and the company has warned that other districts will be waiting a bit longer, but the pace of reconnection is proving to be more rapid than was first anticipated.

The company has been cautious about making specific guarantees concerning a time frame for connection to the various districts, but they have committed themselves to saying that all, ‘re-connectable’ customers will be reconnected within 90 days of the hurricane. 

The first-stage in the operation involves the re-connection of the regionally situated sub-stations, which serve each area. CUC personnel are being assisted by many workers from overseas, and it appears that progress is being made faster than was initially anticipated.

The most recent contingent of overseas help comes after CUC announced that CARILEC (the regional association of electric utilities) had deployed a team from Barbados Light and Power who arrived on Wednesday 29 September, to assist in the battle to power up the Island.
This latest team comprises six linemen, one supervisor and an engineer and brings the overseas crew to 84, made up of experts from Canada, Belize and the United States, the crews will be rotated, but the number of overseas personnel will remain until the restoration of service is substantially completed. 

Overall, CUC is forging full steam ahead with re-connection until government authorities and a large percentage of commercial businesses including those in the financial sector have been reconnected and line department personnel are continuing the process of reconnecting other customers in George Town and the West Bay Road area whose premises have been approved for reconnection by the government’s electrical inspectors. The company is also preparing its submarine cables to Rum Point and West Bay, allowing sub-stations in those areas to commence the restoration process in the eastern and western districts during the coming weeks. 

The visiting crews from the Fortis utility company in Canada are continuing with the rebuilding of power lines from the Marriott to the Hyatt Regency hotels on West Bay Road.

“We are extremely grateful for the critical assistance Fortis has provided in our time of need,” said Peter Thomson, CUC President & Chief Executive Officer. “This marks the first time that crews from several Fortis companies have joined forces to help a sister utility following a disaster such as Hurricane Ivan, and it has once again demonstrated Fortis’ strength as a strategic partner to our Company. We would also like to thank Mastec for its generous assistance to date.”

CUC’s line crews will be working with the overseas line crews to complete the rebuilding of the power lines from CUC’s North Sound Road power plant to the South Sound sub-station at Fern Gardens as soon as possible.

CUC staff has been working extremely hard since Hurricane Ivan struck Grand Cayman and the sight of electricians all over the islands from the very first days after the hurricane has been an uplifting sight for many residents.

While waiting for the return of power has been tough, most residents could not have failed to notice the absolute destruction Ivan wreaked on the lines around the island and the highly visible return of so many power poles and lines in such a short space of time is testament to the commitment of CUC to returning the power to as many homes and businesses as quickly as possible.

“CUC is confident that Grand Cayman will fully recover from the adversity created by the passing of Ivan, and we will contribute our part by re-connecting our customers as quickly as possible,” said Mr. Thomson. “We also recognise the contributions of our employees, many of whom have also suffered personally as a result of the hurricane, and thank them for their dedication and commitment.”

Anticipated Connection Programme: 

• General George Town Area: Service to all re-connectable customers by 8 October
• Red Bay to Bodden Town: Connection commences 12 October
• West Bay: Connection commences 1 October
• North Seven Mile Beach: Connection commences 4 October
• North Side/ Colliers: Connection commences 3 October 
• Bodden Town to Frank Sound Junction: Connection commences 31 October

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