Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

UPDATE: Island-wide power outage occurred after unit ‘tripped’- Deputy GM

- According to Symorne Penn, BVIEC investigating root cause of power failure
One of the units at the Henry Wilfred Smith Power Station at Pockwood Pond ‘tripped’, which caused the entire system to shut down this morning, July 20, 2021, Deputy General Manager Symorne Penn told Virgin Islands News Online. Photo: VINO/File
The BVI Electricity Corporation has said there is an island wide power outage this morning, July 20, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
The BVI Electricity Corporation has said there is an island wide power outage this morning, July 20, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
POCKWOOD POND, Tortola, VI- The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) has said it is investigating the “root cause” of the island-wide power outage this morning, July 20, 2021.

Tortola, along with Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke, was without electricity for much of the morning hours due to the system shut down at Pockwood Pond.

“One of the units tripped at the Henry Wilfred Smith Power Station, which caused the entire system to cascade,” Deputy General Manager Symorne Penn told Virgin Islands News Online.

“We are still investigating the matter to determine the root cause, however, all power has been restored,” Penn added.

See previous article published June 20, 2021

BVIEC notifies of island-wide power outage

The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) is notifying the public of an island-wide power outage.

The island of Tortola experienced a power outage early this morning, July 20, 2021; however, power briefly came on just after 8:00am before another outage was experienced minutes later.

"The BVI Electricity Corporation is hereby notifying customers that there is an island-wide power outage. Our team is working expeditiously to restore electricity," a BVIEC notice this morning stated.

It is unclear what is the reason for the power outage and efforts to reach General Manager of BVIEC Mr Leroy A.E. Abraham were unsuccessful up to time of publication.

22 Responses to “UPDATE: Island-wide power outage occurred after unit ‘tripped’- Deputy GM”

  • Hmm (20/07/2021, 08:54) Like (17) Dislike (5) Reply
    Lol so how ppl without data will see this message?
  • Dreaming (20/07/2021, 09:18) Like (39) Dislike (5) Reply
    Imagine the island was powered by solar...free uninterrupted green energy from the sun. Maybe one day
    • Nuts (20/07/2021, 12:41) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
      It is crazy that Solar isn't being used. Also that cisterns no longer needed in new builds.
    • jah (20/07/2021, 17:21) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
      Solar isn't ment for Caribbean where we have storm and hurricane.
  • Bviec worker (20/07/2021, 09:47) Like (11) Dislike (14) Reply
    It’s not that simple
    • Also Dreaming (20/07/2021, 10:05) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
      Yes, but if the Govt and BVIEC had actively encouraged solar in the past 10 years instead of high tariffs on equipment and obstructive regulation it could be more simple than it is....
    • Off grid (20/07/2021, 10:52) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      When qe build these big --- homes, just build them off gris
    • PLEASE EXPLAIN? (20/07/2021, 14:32) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      BVIEC, it’s not a simple process for sure but once it’s done it’s done. Clean and sustainable energy
  • support (20/07/2021, 09:57) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    these things happen to the best grid and power company in the world . even happen to solar grid so in life nothing is 100 percent . whats amasing though is that our ' POWER TECHNICIAN' ALWAYS GET THE JOB DONE.
  • Then do explain (20/07/2021, 10:05) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    What do you suggest as an alternative to frequent outages and ruined appliances? I am literally convinced the employees of BVIEC do not live in the territory in which they work.
    • Be Fair (20/07/2021, 21:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      The guys out fixing stuff are really good workers. Also the first guys to offer encouragement or a lift if you out walking the hills.

      The strategic management and procurement has been mired in the usual problems that hold countries back. After the COI, we can see if we can improve and be more resilient.
  • Rick (20/07/2021, 10:11) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    I thought that we weren't supposed to be getting outages as promised by the last government when they did the upgrade with the new wartzilla engines
  • ccc (20/07/2021, 10:28) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    It came on now off again but I still have to pay my bill
    • BS! (20/07/2021, 12:06) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      @CCC you pay the bill for the power you use. If the power is off you aren't using anything.....
  • resident, (20/07/2021, 10:44) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    What about a smaller power station with a load of substations to spread the load? I believe that's the way it's done in most places, in part because it lowers capital investment and it mitigates risk of total outages.
    • Wellsir (20/07/2021, 21:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      We had infrastructure rebuild experts here after the storm but chose to defund and chastise them and now they are gone.
  • Inconvenience (20/07/2021, 12:08) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
    Are we going to get a discount....Why they always have to get their way with us. Then they have no mercy for us...
  • say what (20/07/2021, 12:09) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    telling me about power outages after the fact.
  • Warm lay up (20/07/2021, 13:52) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Maybe the Grandeur of the Seas cruise ship can power the BVI when it arrives this weekend.
  • Stupes (20/07/2021, 14:20) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Solar ?
    Ain’t the devil Trying to block the sun
  • hopefully (20/07/2021, 17:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This didn’t affect machinery at the hospital. This is not the time for this stuff.
  • stop it! (20/07/2021, 17:35) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
    Things happen. Come on these guys doing a good Job


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.