FTC Waits: Utility regulator expects blackout report from power company

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) is awaiting a report with full details from the Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC) about the island-wide power outage on Tuesday.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Marsha Atherley-Ikechi said on Thursday that the utility regulator already received a preliminary report from the BLPC for its consideration, as required. However, in keeping with regulations, the full report is due within six weeks.

“We have the initial report but it hasn’t indicated the actual cause per se. When we get the report at the six-week point – or it could come before depending on how quickly [the BLPC is] able to understand the source of the problem – …we will understand what is the issue and we can engage on mitigating going forward,” the FTC chief told Barbados TODAY.

She said that as a regulator, the FTC has a responsibility to ensure that the island’s electricity service is safe, adequate and reliable and incidents of outages and similar occurrences are monitored.

Addressing the matter of compensation or redress for customers whose systems were damaged as a consequence of power outages, Dr Atherley-Ikechi said: “It depends on the outage. There is a level of voltage variation that is allowed. If it is beyond that and an investigation is done and it proves that [the BLPC] is at fault, then they compensate customers.”

“We normally ask the customers to go directly to them. If they are dissatisfied or they don’t respond in a timely manner, within 14 business days, then they can come to the commission and we will further initiate discussions with them on the particular matters,” she explained, adding that customers are compensated for damage but not spoilage.

The FTC CEO explained that while surge protectors are useful in helping to prevent damage to equipment, they had limitations.

“There is an expectation that people have with surge protectors on the system as well. But one thing Barbadians don’t appear to appreciate is that those surge protectors, their ability to withstand the surges diminishes with the number of surges that they have had to previously combat,” she said.

Meanwhile, president of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Anthony Branker has advised business owners and managers to put systems in place to help mitigate the impact of future blackouts.

“We live in a world where nothing is perfect, and even though Light and Power may obviously try to avoid outages, things do happen. And, therefore, as part of a responsible business, I think that businesses should look at having some type of business continuity plan, that whether it is electricity or whatever type of disruption they have a plan in place to mitigate against any type of disruption,” Branker told Barbados TODAY.

On Wednesday, the former president of the BCCI, Eddy Abed said more had to be done to stabilise the island’s energy grid.

He said that despite assurances given by the BLPC over the last few years that the electricity grid was being strengthened, blackouts have continued to negatively affect businesses.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb