Job-Sprott – VINLEC electricity services 80 percent restored

At least eighty percent of the Vincentian population should wake up with electricity in their homes today.{{more}}

That is according to St. Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC)’s Communications Officer Tamara Job-Sprott.

Job-Sprott told SEARCHLIGHT yesterday, Monday, November 1, that the remaining 20 per cent of VINLEC customers should have service restored by this Friday, November 5, with the exception of a few households.

She said that there were currently 18 crews working towards restoring electricity to the country, following the destructive work of Hurricane Tomas last Saturday, October 30.

“We have eleven VINLEC crews out and seven other crews, including tree trimming units, working tirelessly to restore power.”

“We have a lot of trees down on poles and lines so we are trying to get those cleared as soon as possible.”

She called for customers to be patient, since the company is doing all in its power to have things back to as normal as possible.

Job-Sprott said that other challenges faced by the crews also include the large numbers of transformers and meters that have been damaged as a result of the high winds accompanying Tomas.

Job-Sprott acknowledged that the hardest hit areas: North Leeward and North Windward will take a bit longer to have power restored, but indicated that possibly by Friday, November 5, there should be some electricity in those areas.

She said that there was major work done on Saturday and Sunday in other areas, with some restoration of power in a number of areas that were affected; however, there were some ‘pockets’ of communities that are still without electricity, which will soon be back on stream.

“There are still some pockets in Kingstown, Mesopotamia, Central Leeward, Windward….”

The official sent out a stern warning to persons not to touch downed electrical wires, saying that some of these may still be live.

“Under no circumstance are you to touch them. You must assume that they are live and leave them alone.”

“We are asking persons to make reports of downed wires, broken meters and any other problems that they are experiencing so we could fix them and have power restored.