#BTSpeaking Out – Managing the grid

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Michael Rudder

The air is filled with sparks as Intervenors, the public and the Light and Power Company officials either crunch numbers in the crucible of speculation, anticipation, or proposition, or even sharpen their new or old arguments on the whetstone change.

It’s time for another public rate hearing.

I was once an “Objector” in the matter of the rate hearing for the telephone company 1992 – ’93. In my written summary at page eleven I suggested that the term “Objectors” be changed to the American descriptor “Intervenors.”

One may of course be an intervenor either for or against the proposals. Being objectors – as we were – or now styled Intervenors, this takes up much time and research.

I applaud all for their diligence, but in the end shall we know for certain who will manage the grid? Will we know who will be respond when complaints are made – even to folks with hybrid systems?

If there are a number of significant producers of electricity supplying the grid who shall take responsibility for managing the total grid, if anyone? Who is going to stock new transmission lines, transformers or insulators and poles; to say nothing of the repair and or replacement of rolling stock?

Any rate hearing has to somehow anticipate at least three elements viz: continuing on as of today, an unknown degree of change – new entrants, fuel or economic, and indeed the possibility of major disruption caused by events such as storm, tsunami or even earthquake. In an unknown and possibly an uncertain future I simply ask, “Who shall manage the Grid?”