Dominica was plunged into darkness on Sunday evening following what was described as a fault on an external busbar at DOMLEC’s power station in Fond Cole.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of DOMLEC, Adina Bellot- Valentine told DNO on Monday the investigations are ongoing into the matter.
“We had some fault on our external busbar at Fond Cole, the system tripped and basically that was what caused the blackout,” she explained. “A couple of our generating units were switched off and investigations are ongoing…”
In electrical terms a busbar refers to thick strips of copper or aluminium that conduct electricity within a switchboard, distribution board, substation, or other electrical apparatus.
Bellot-Valentine said power was restored by 10:23 on Sunday evening.
“We do not expect anything major today unless we have very unforeseen circumstances,” she stated. “So varying any other circumstances, we will be OK for today.”
enfin
So this was why I was unable to get through with a telephone call to D/ca late last evening due to the power outage? I tried twice and received the response at my end, “No one is answering the telephone. Try later.”
I found it strange for I did not hear the telephone ring. I thought well, it is Canada’s Thanksgiving Weekend and many people may be utilizing the telephone circuits. I had planned to telephone the Provider today but was too busy.
Ah shut up none of you could do better
wether you disagree with some’s opinion or not every one have a God given right to express themselves. ” there is alittle sense in nonsense”
So when you have a problem with EDF in London you simply shut up because you can not do better? Come and live here to experience real life brother.
Domlec has been providing power to Dominica for over 70 years yet it does not have a dedicated Transmission line(66kV). What Domlec has is distribution lines(11kV) which it co-uses as ‘transmission’. That is unprofessional and against international electrical regulations. In this arrangement the system remains fragile and subject to complete failure in the event of the slightest fault.
Domlec continues to rake in millions in profit on the backs of the hard pressed consumers. Not a penny is invested in any long term system enhancement measure. The(independent regulatory commission) IRC is in cahoots with Domlec, since they are aware of this shortcoming yet refuse to order Domlec to do the right thing. For that matter they rewarded them with a 15-year licence extension without making any specific demand.
Domlec is so contented with fooling the people it created a PR department with a full time PRO, to razzle, dazzle and bamboozle the very consumers of whom it is sucking the very lifeblood from. Shame on Domlec! Shame on the IRC and shame on the government of Dominica.
If the IRC is in cahoots with anyone it must be the Govt., who bankrolls them. Ask mr. Cove why he left his position here and if he is honest he will tell you that one of the reasons is that damned IRC wanting to run Domlec by proxy. Yes, the Government that makes more money out of electricity sales than Domlec.15% vat alone is more than Domlec’s profit, no to mention all the money they make on the sale of diesel fuel through the Govt. company Dominica National Petroleum that is under the direct control of the Min. of Finance.
That same company that is supposed to pay the Venezuelans but only the Good Lord knows what happen to all that money.
My goodness! This is shocking! Only in Dominica you say! DOMLEC must upgrade its system. What is it trying to do? Save money while it bilks D/cans of their hard-earned dollars? Shame on DOMLEC! Get with it and bring your system up-to-date without further ado.
When enterprises do not have competition this is how they carry-on. Nevertheless the government department concerned should get at DOMLEC and request, in no uncertain way, to upgrade and to supply D/cans with adequate service.
Hydro Ontario has been doing that for sometime to Ontarians. I did write about that on a certain relevant article. I understood that Canadian Radio and Telecommunication Corp. – CRTC is investigating Hydro. When this is complete, it is my feeling that Hydro will pay an exorbitant sum of money in rebates to those customers affected.
Let me further inform you, Canadians today do not take those matters lightly. They write their MP’s and MPP’s. The government hears about it. It is relayed through the general Media. They also write CRTC, even pertaining to Telephone, TV and Internet Providers. Eventually changes are effected.
I have learned to stand up for my rights too and will not fail to complain and lodge one, in no uncertain way if I feel I am within my right. You must make them hop.
I have stated, they are not our friends. We are conducting business with them, paying for it and should not have to beg them for service which they should also deliver with appreciation and gratitude (and a smile too) for keeping them in business and being able to pay their staff as they also get rich.
Corporations are quick to collect their money but slow to provide service/repairs and adequate ones. Be late with the payment and see how quickly they will be on your back. Today, customers are not sitting on it. They expect service for their hard-earned money. Then, those enterprises must deliver prompt and adequate service. This is the way it should be. No if’s or buts.
Although I support the Gov’t of Dominica (well, not everything) you made some great points. This is very shameful on their part and the IRC (perceived to be ineffective by Dominicans).
There’s no way contract should be extended without any stipulations. So they were rewarded to do nothing. Shameful and something has to be done before geothermal comes.
Top be honest with you we don’t need that government contr4oled IRC that costs more than $1 million a year to run. For a small place like Dominica mrs. Mckenzie of Domlec can run that operation easily without such a bloated overhead on our backs. Honestly, what does IRC do all day?
well said!!!when are Dominicans going to open their eyes?
Domlec my TV spoil allu have a money for me
Count yourself lucky. At least your computer was not affected.
If you do not have a surge protector when power goes off, your TV and Internet stand to crash; especially the TV.
Sometime ago a neighbor informed me that when the power went off his computer crashed. He had to buy a new one.
I have yet to hear if anyone held Hydro responsible for this. However, it is interesting. I must consult CRTC about that. It would be interesting to hear what they have to say.
We have had many blackouts in Toronto; sometimes under normal conditions and also while sleeping. You get up and observe the clock, microwave, telephone and anything digital with a clock flickering. We always have to be prepared and keep a flashlight close by, in every room.
You should speak to DOMLEC about that. It will be said this was not its fault but it appears that it is. Good luck!
So much for depending on DOMLEC.
I am 39 and live in London. Whenever I come back home there is always an electricity outage and all that Domlec does is apologises. day in day out, year in year out and that has been going on for the past 30 years.
When are people going to get compensated for their perishable foods which has gone off because of Domlec`s incompetence.
I can understand how inconvenienced it was for you. Two things are of necessity which we cannot do without are, water and lights.
I have been home a few times, on occasion for a month and never did the electricity go off. I must have been fortunate. 
There are flashlights with big batteries which could light up a room. This is a good one to buy.
You seemed to have had bad luck. Bad timing?
When you travel to D/ca again, ensure that you bring some flashlights and batteries; also candles. Maybe a hurricane lamp?
On my next visit I will remember this as well for it appears instead of getting better, it is getting worse.
And that is another thing. Every time they have their maintenance they black out a whole area for a day. That is a nuisance and I’m sure they could manage that better. Imagine doing that in in America or Europe.
we are not prepared for a little power outage MUCH LESS FOR EBOLA
prevented me from trading on the asian market last night hhmmmm
maybe you should be trading on the local market. Mr. Skerrit says the economy is so good. You should buy some of his T-bills but, with hindsight T-bags may be safer.
Mouth….U back? Well…look it
see why Dominica will always continue to be a back benched island, in this modern era they haven’t divided the system thus the whole island doesn’t suffer…where is the plan B?
Again it shows Dominica’s vulnerability..
Dominica won’t change folks their standards are super low
Dominica should have small sub stations to keep at least some part of the island afloat in the down times…
shame on their outlook of the bigger picture.
again it’s dominica so that’s expected..
For God sake man we are only a population of 70,000 and if half of those are on a meter that is it. We are a small island, vulnerable to natural events so invest in a generator and don’t tell that busy body Regulator because they only want to tax you for looking after yourself.
Wa rubbish this?
That is why all you will always keep thinking small.
Generators could be expensive and they must be kept outside. Not even some well-to-do people in Canada have generators as much as everyone would like one considering the blackout in Ontario in December for days and in some locations weeks, when we had an ice storm. This was something else. I hope we do not have another one and not a black-out in winter.
I do not think they will be charged for having a generator. It should only be used when electricity goes off.
i don’t work for domlec …… but i know that system is divided. it is clear that u don’t know about power generation and SYNCHRONIZATION!!!!!!
Of course we know about synchronization., they have that in the Olympics. Synchronized swimming when the ladies have a funny clip on their nose.
The error was fixed rather quickly, for a small island, I do not think the electrical and water services are too bad.
Although there is always room for improvement.
D/ca’s water taste good in comparison to Toronto’s water. I enjoyed drinking it. In fact, I view it as delicious especially with the tropical weather.
I do not drink water from the tap in Toronto if I can help it; not at my place of residence. There are chlorine and other particles in it. I will not elaborate. Although the authorities state it is safe to drink, I no longer drink it right from the tap.
Some people filter the water or boil it. I got into the habit of boiling mine. Even when cooking, there are times I use the water that was boiled.
I agree with Jolly, how comes the whole island was out, THE WHOLE ISLAND, come one, where are the subs, eh!
we have been on the back end for too long… have a plan B,
Stupes
DNO, how long did the power outage last?
What do you want us to tell you? In Dominica time is elastic, somebody told me last week they even invented flexitime here.
Are we to understand this was a possible sabotage?
Hmmmm, just as Angelo was going into some juicy bits the power was cut. Coincidence?? I don’t know. Today anything is possible in Dominica. Of course the Supremo would call it Divine Intervention.
Are the disgruntled men at DOMLEC so angry that a woman was given the top post, that they are trying to make her look bad???
You don’t see how many of our graduates at the UWI in St. Lucia l;ast week are women? They are leaving our men behind.
It is up to the men to do at least as well as women because why should they be superior without trying.
awa modernize and stop using the ole system in dem dayz and age black should b a nono seprate the system fondcole carrying to much of a heavy load
what all you gwo gel saying when it occurs in NYC and other US states?
Get real. accidents to happen….
Thanks for taking our calls Domlec and working hard to rectify the situation.
Just reduce the bills and we will like all you more.
Man, your English doesn’t work so why you expect Domlec to work. Chupes.
La-what?