The Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) has released initial results from its ongoing $130 million USD grid modernization project on the island of New Providence. Three months into the initiative, the company reports progress in infrastructure upgrades and the implementation of smart grid technology aimed at improving power reliability.
Since the project began, BGC reports that its crews have installed or replaced 80 overhead distribution poles and upgraded 56,000 feet of wire. Additionally, the company has laid 3,800 feet of underground cable and established 18 new service connections. According to the company, these distribution upgrades have affected approximately 6,000 customers.
On the transmission side of the network, BGC has installed 105 new steel poles and pulled over 83,000 feet of high-capacity conductor wire. The company also noted that its teams have provided more than 1,100 hours of emergency response support to address service needs.
“This is about building a stronger, smarter energy grid for The Bahamas,” said J. Eric Pike, chairman of the board at BGC. “Every pole we set and every line we upgrade brings us closer to making reliable power the standard, not the exception,” Pike added.
A key component of the modernization effort is the deployment of smart grid technology. BGC has installed 47 IntelliRupter PulseCloser Fault Interrupters, manufactured by S&C Electric Company, at various points in the New Providence grid. These devices are designed to automatically detect and isolate electrical faults, which can reduce the scope and duration of power outages.
According to data released by BGC, these installations have prevented 182 potential outages in 2025 that would have impacted 48,000 customers. The company calculates this as a 73% reduction in total outages and an 86% decrease in potential service interruptions for customers on the upgraded circuits.
“We are implementing more than a standard grid upgrade—it’s a long-term investment in our communities,” said Mei Shibata, CEO at BGC. “We’re proactively building a system that can self-mitigate issues, so that every household and business in New Providence can count on consistent, dependable power,” Shibata added.
The $130 million USD project is intended to modernize the island’s energy system. BGC has stated it will continue to provide public updates on its website as the work progresses.
BGC-Distribution work. Photo credit: Island Grid – BGC.
