The Minister of Energy and Transport the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis said as part of ongoing efforts to modernize the energy sector, the Bahamas Grid Company (BGC), was established, a dedicated transmission and distribution (T&D) entity responsible for upgrading and managing New Providence’s grid infrastructure.
“This structure follows a widely adopted model in the global energy industry, where ownership and operation of grid assets are managed separately from retail and generation functions to improve operational efficiency and system reliability,” the Energy Minister said during her Contribution to the 2025/2026 Budget Debate in the House of Assembly on Monday, June 16, 2025.
She explained that the formation of the BGC was made possible through a public-private partnership that brought both capital and technical expertise to support the T&D upgrade. This arrangement aligns with established utility practices, enabling long-term infrastructure investment while ensuring stable grid operations.
The Minister said under the new structure, BGC will oversee the poles, wires, and substations on New Providence.
She said Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) will continue to manage customer service, billing, and third-party generation agreements, maintaining continuity in customer-facing operations. This division of responsibilities reflects a proven industry model for improving service delivery and supporting grid modernization.
“Our T&D upgrade project has kicked off already, with the first new transmission poles being put into the ground this week, and the work is expected to be finished in the next 12 months.”
She noted that by way of update, the Bahamas Grid has made significant progress upgrading and modernizing New Providence’s grid.
“They have installed or replaced 237 overhead distribution poles, reconducted more than 107,000 feet of distribution wire, load balanced 58 circuit miles serving over 16,000 customers, and enhanced system reliability by installing 47 IntelliRupters.
“They have also performed over 2,400 hours of emergency work, expanded underground services, and strengthened the transmission system with 51 new steel poles, 400 feet of fiber, and 2,400 feet of new conductor.”
