LUCELEC Addresses Recent Power Outages

In recent weeks, residents across several communities in Saint Lucia have experienced power outages, causing frustration and inconvenience. The most recent outage occurred on Sunday due to a faulty generator at the Cul de Sac plant and the unavailability of another generator caused by mandatory maintenance. The two factors triggered an unplanned interruption in the power supply across several communities. The blackout, which began at 7:04 PM, affected areas including parts of Soufrière, Vieux Fort, Anse La Raye, Choc, Millet, Massade, and Cap Estate. St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) Managing Director Gilroy Pultie disclosed in a press statement that Cul De Sac plant equipment failure and damage to its distribution system caused by third-party excavation works caused the disruptions. “This has affected our system reliability, resulting in more frequent unplanned outages,” Pultie revealed. He noted that these faults have impacted larger areas than usual, with restoration efforts taking longer than normal due to reduced operational flexibility. The LUCELEC Managing Director explained that utility teams worked diligently to address the issue, fully restoring power to all customers by 10:03 PM. The company apologised for the inconvenience caused and reassured customers that it was taking all necessary steps to prevent future...