The island’s sole electricity provider, Dominica Electricity Services Ltd (DOMLEC) has reported that an island-wide power cut on Thursday morning was a result of insufficient generation capacity. The outage was one of a series that has been plaguing the island in recent times.
“A fault on the system resulted in the loss of the Sugar Loaf Power Plant, then the Fond Cole Power Plant and then
the hydropower plants causing a complete shutdown,” Manager of DOMLEC, Bertilia McKenzie revealed at a press conference on Thursday. “I need to say to us that the root cause of this load shedding has been insufficient generation capacity.”
According to her, DOMLEC is now facing a generation shortfall and there are several causes.
“We have been seeing in 2023 increased consumption, what you call increased load, so our peak so far for the year is 17.62 megawatts,” McKenzie explained.
She said compared to 2021, “where we have a peak of 16.38 megawatts, that’s over 1-megawatt additional consumption by our customers and in 2022 of 16.35 megawatts as well.”
She pointed out that Dominicans are consuming more power in 2023 but that’s not all. According to her, DOMLEC is also facing the problem of old machines.
“Compare this with an aging generation fleet, and aging diesel generation fleet of which 10 megawatts of generation are past due for retirement,” she said.
She stated that the company is putting in place some measures to combat the ongoing power cuts.
Specifically, she indicated that in the immediate term, the Government of Dominica has provided DOMLEC with an 800 KW generator and it’s expected to be commissioned by September 15.
“DOMLEC has also sourced the services of a generation consultant from St Lucia to undertake an assessment of our generation system, an independent person to help us with what’s going on,” McKenzie revealed. “His initial stint commences on Monday, September 18, and will conclude on the 22, that’s the initial stint, but we expect him to return.”
“He is going to undertake the assessment, tell us what he sees, and give us recommendations,” she added.
She also revealed that in the immediate term, the electrical company is going to lease two megawatts of temporary generation from outside.
Meanwhile, McKenzie said the country needs additional generation.
“We need additional generation, the country needs additional generation,” McKenzie pointed out. “Customers [would]
complain about the price of electricity before but they would always say, I can count on DOMLEC. Now they are
saying to me that the reliability has gone down the drain. And they are correct. So we need to procure an additional
two to four megawatts of generation subject to IRC (Independent Regulatory Commission) approval because the
regulator must approve.”
She explained that the medium to long-term solution is a 10 megawatts geothermal power plant now under construction in Laudat which according to her, will be commissioned “in a few years.”
The ongoing power cuts have been the center of discussion by many Dominicans on social media while the company has consistently said that these are part of its “Capacity Management Program.”
In March 2022, the government of Dominica announced that it had acquired majority shares in the company with Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit saying it was being done “in the best interest of electricity consumers, the shareholders and employees of the company, and Dominica.”
He said the move was in line with his government’s plan to make Dominica the first climate-resilient country in the world.
“The acquisition of DOMLEC aligns with our goals to build resilience in the energy sector through deliberate action to improve energy security, and strengthen growth and economic prospects. As part of our vision for a dynamic Dominica, we are pursuing greater efficiency in electricity generation to meet our national target of 100% clean, carbon-neutral energy by the year 2030,” Skerrit said.
With the ongoing outages getting on everyone’s nerves, some people are demanding answers from the government.
“This is a crisis in Dominica and no one seems to be addressing it. Isn’t the gov’t the majority shareholder in DOMLEC? What is the gov’t saying?” one person wrote on Facebook.
it’s not DOMLEC’s fault. It’s the fault of our dear Government. how is it? well, before the government bought the majority shares of the company, the government also gave domlec a license of 15 years to generate electricity. with this license, the company didn’t see how they would be able to repay the cost of investing in bigger more expensive generation sets. so, what did the company do? nothing. And whose fault is that? well, seemingly Domlec, but in reality it’s the government. after purchasing the majority shares, they’re now in position to effect change, but still the people suffer, and poor mrs Mckenzie has to be the face of Skerrs disgrace. well ain’t that something.
Reading what the general manager said, it appears to me that Domlec is reacting to events as they happen instead of having a strategic plan to ensure they have adequate generating capacity to meet the demands of the future.
I understand the motivation of the previous owners of Domlec to extract profits with little reinvestment in the company if they only had a short term time horizon. Which begs the question: why didn’t the IRC force Domlec to have a strategic plan and made sure they reinvested in plant and equipment as a condition to maintain their license to operate in Dominica?
As I have said before poor countries are not poor by accident.
I would love to see her CV in order to find out what her qualifications for a job like that might be. Being able to flick a light switch perhaps?
Sometimes I just love DNO.They allow DON KEYS like MEME to expose their high level of stupidity.Everybody know UWP sold our birthright(Domlec)to a foreign company.We know that company made hundreds of millions of dollars in profit from the backs of Dominicans.We know all the profit was sent overseas.We know because of the suffering inflicted on Dominicans by UWP government was force to by back what Dominicans owned.We know government bought Domlec back last year 2022.All those years profit was leaving Dominica buy the millions,based on the comments that was ok with UWP.
Clown, if indeed you believe that it was a mistake that the UWP government sold the power distributing system to a private entity, only to result in less efficiency, now that you and king crooked Roosevelt are the sole government in Dominica; what is preventing you from ordering Roosevelt from buying the power generating system from the present owners?
Or simple declare it public domain,as he has done in Wesley using that method, of taking way voiceless people property giving it to his China government residence in the country!
Guy, can’t you see the problem is Roosevelt?
Let me draw this to your attention: Roseau is supposed to be the main town or city in the country: I ask you, have you seen any sign saying Money-gram, or Western Union operating in Roseau?
They are no longer there; so money wired to anyone in Dominica, on any part of the island; must travel to Portsmouth to collect at the only moneygram on the island?
That should be a concern; rather bull about UWP!
@ Big Clown
STOP it immediately!! STOP your nonsensical ramblings and face reality for a change. Do you really believe the things you share on here? Oh my Jesus (in Spanish)! If only 1% of this blessed land think the way you do, we are doomed as a nation.
The EDUCATED FOOLS of Q and UWP know it all.. Ask THEM for a solution ,they have none but are first to comment and disagree on everything happening in the country. See long ONE is given a license to export water out of the 365 rivers in Dominica. Up till now not a teaspoon he has sold to the public far less to export. He has the license in his back pocket walking around town every Wednesday hoping to find a buyer. Another one on his talk show calling people acolytes, clappers and dancers of Skerrit. One wonders what is he really doing on Q when he is a boom boom fly of Lennox and the UWP. Everything negative he hears about the country he is quick to talk about on his TALK SHOW but anything positive he turns a blind eye or deaf ear on. Isn’t he singing for his super? THEY know it and can DO IT ALL according to THEM.
@KID ON THE BLOCK, it’s clear that you lack comprehension ability and can’t understand what is in the news report by Ms. McKenzie who is the GM of DOMLEC. Your rant is typical for a moron who can’t understand what’s at hand.
The good lady acknowledged that there is a problem with the electric company losing the trust and reliability of the public because of a lack of electric generation caused by increased consumption coupled with decrepit machinery.
Any school child would understand that except stooges who are drunk on “red cool aid”. Get outta here. Mrs McKenzie is too busy to give you a tutorial.
why shouldn’t they know it all. it was fools like you rejoicing guavament buy Domlec. Enjoy the guava season a choo
What happened to Skerrit’s geothermal steam powered power plant that he has been promising for the last 20 years, all they have seen is a bunch of hot steam on the mountain but no power. The people have been conned and had real bad where did all the money go?
When Dr. SOS (Starboy of Stupidity) who knows nothing about finance makes financial decisions for you, prepare for bankruptcy.
Ironically he was elected only for his dimples, now he has the country in a financial abyss.
If you need consultations from another island to help you fix your power outage then you are not the right person for the job. Stop down!
Why you’ll have an issue of “Failing equipment”? Past couple years I’ve been seeing you all raking in millions in profit, where that money going? Why not upgrade something… I wouldnt think you’d have to tell that to people with Masters degrees and PHDs
Excuses! Excuses! Excuses!
There should have been planning for the following:
load growth, aging infrastructure and contingency plan
All these years and now you’re saying equipment is old and Megawatts are increasing. This should have been forecasted from previous years when you all saw the load increased. Your system should never be run at full capacity and a standby should always be in place. So what will happen if the so called Airportis built? Also please don’t use buzz words such as the Geothermal plant will be commissioned in a few years to fool Dominicans. Commisioning is one thing, There’s a lot more that has to be done to convert this energy into the right voltage to be distributed on the grid. Currently there’s no infrastructure in place for that to happen. Poor planning on you and Domlec, now you’re bringing a foreign consultant for something an engineer in Domlec should be able to do. Do us a favor and FIRE yourself.
Another foreign consultancy…??? How much is this one costing? And we need to stop this nonsense about “clean carbon free energy” and focus on “cheap reliable energy” so that business can operate, and investment can come into the economy…
In DNO Update Island Wide Power Cut date September 14th, 2023. Domlec GM stated that government.is to provide a 800kW generator by September 15th, and Domlec to lease 2MW generators. Based on what I have read from the above referred DNO story, the 2.8MW generation capacity is inadequate to meet Domlec shortfall, and worst yet, if 2.8MW or more generation capacity is offline, and we are back to the power cuts. The better option was that 5 years ago Domlec should have implemented its 5 MW battery storage facility. During periods of low consumer demands, charge the batteries’, and during periods of high demands, use the battery storage facility. The 2.8MW generators are likely to be high speed units, consume more fuel per kWh, more fuel surcharge. I strongly feel that this is a more cost-effective option, no need to consume additional fuel and no fuel surcharge. I don’t have data on the battery storage bank investment, but it’s likely more costly to operate the diesel generators.
I wish to comment on statements made by “Domlec we not stupid ” and “BWA Banfay”. Regarding the comment that Domlec should take it profit to buy generators. The Electricity Supply Act 10 of 2006, Domlec no longer have exclusive generation license, It’s the IRC that has the authority issues licenses. Its over 10 years that Domlec has been making request to the IRC for licenses to both replace its aging units and to increase it capacity to meets the increasing power demand and the IRC have declined on the basis that there are plans for generating electricity by geothermal and to avoid Domlec having stranded assets. The Domlec GM statement is not “Cow Manure”. The current situation (i) Domlec generators are aging, its last three generators are 17 years old (ii) the peak demand is more that Domlec generation capacity (iii) Geothermal 3 + years (iv) we have to leave with fuel surcharge for a few more years.
wonderful insight far more refreshing than the usual braying from the self-important red and blue donkeys.
Maybe IRC should reevaluate their stance then. Though it would be too little too late in the moment perhaps we could stop being so shortsighted and plan better for the future. Ahhh…if only.
You do realize that any investment in new generators by DOMLEC will result in a request by the company for an increase in electricity rates, do you? There is no quick and easy fix at this juncture.
DNO, I suggested so previously, interview the IRC Director/CEO to find out the dynamics underpinning our current challenge with power generation.
ADMIN: We are following up on several leads.
Thank you, DNO!
Would you prefer lower rates, but no power or reliable power at a higher cost?
I prefer responsible decision-making.
@Putin. Responsible decision making??? Well my friend it appears you ended up in the wrong camp. Nice try though. You guys get propaganda lessons free of charge now from the liar in chief?
Garsan, you are probably new here. The DNO blog is polluted by UWPwee supporters, many of them posting under multiple monikers. So, offering such reasoned position is of little value here. None of them care for such matter-of-fact statements.
@Putin
Reasons why you know that people are posting under different names, means that you are the prime culprit. Engage your mind before engaging the keyboard.
I had to re-read that comment from all angles before I understood what you seem to be trying to say. Phew!
You do not need not do much work to see the clones, they use the same language, same tone, same narrative. and sometimes forget to mask their names properly so, inevitably, they give themselves away.
@Putin, whoever you are you need to chill out. I checked 8 out of 39 posts on this one article are from you, Putin, yet you point fingers and accuse others of populating the DNO space? When you point one finger many more point back at you. You’ve been called out.
Questions: 1) Domlec doesn’t have a generation expert? 2) No-one saw this coming? 3) The government is only providing 800kw? 4) Why isn’t the PM treating this as a national emergency? 5) What happens when the peak tourism starts and power demand is higher? 6) Will hotels take precedent over Dominican households? 7) Why are we always spending (other people’s) money on new things and not maintaining what we already have?
How can anyone seriously talk of climate resilience? 9) Isn’t this a national embarrassment?
The government needs to put a temporary HOLD on all major projects promised such as Int’l airport, cruise ship berth, zip line etc. etc. and COMPLETE the GEOTHERMAL plant. Did I say COMPLETE the GEOTHERMAL plant?
The Roosevelt led autocracy has no vision. This is but one of the multiplicity of reasons that Dominica is disintegrating.
New housing apartments an additional physical projects but no modernization of the antiquated grid. Common sense dictates that there is a MUST for increased generation of electricity. The outdated electrical generators have buckled under the demands for additional power.
Where common sense is lacking all things go haywire. The whole of society suffers. No matter what measuring stick that is used Dr² is a colossal FAILURE.
With these big CBI hotels, an international airport and a cable car, the future looks increasingly dark. Literally.
With a geothermal plant soon to be constructed, the future looks bright, literally!
Not sure how you define soon. Its years away.
Based on the last press briefing by the Minister for Energy, those years are two steps away 2025. Then again, do not take my word for it; call the geothermal company or send them an email.
I don’t need to, thanks. I recognise BS when I see it.
WELL SAID, Bwa-Banday.
This problem lies squarely at the feet of Skerrit. After almost 20 years as Prime Minister, and Minister of “Everything”, the dumbest and most idiotic Prime Minister in CARICOM has totally ignored SOLAR ENERGY. Government buildings are being built and solar panels are 100% absent. This leader who runs things in Dominica is either cursed or jinxed. Everything he touches get spoilt. His purchase of majority shares in DOMLEC is the latest. This purchase is like a poised chalice. It has brought, and will continue to bring misery to all of us, including the labourites who follow the Starboy of Stupidity just to clap!!
WE NEED BOOTS ON THE GROUND, to stop this madness…Eleven hours today Thursday with no current. Eight hours yesterday Wednesday, no current!!
This is the problem for Dominica, too many of you believe that the challenges facing the nation are due to one man because you have been wired to think this way by demagogues who wish to whip up emotions and social chaos. If you continue to believe this hogwash, you will never allow yourself the mental space to truly understand the core of our problems; all you will see is “Skerrit.”
I wonder, though…would you also attribute our victories solely to that one man, Skerrit?
@Putin
Well if you were not braindead, this one man (Starboy of Stupudity), has your money under the control of one man, who is smarter than him, and this man (Anthony Hayden), is even richer than Dominica. Have you ever asked yourself what happens to your billions, if Anthony Hayden dies wherever he is? This man, (Starboy of Stupidity), said he run things in Dominica, so it’s obvious that when things go wrong in Dominica, he is the reason. He is to be blamed. He has neglected you, while he lives high on the hog, but you clap and blow your red trumpet when he tells you in an insultive and condescending manner that he has health insurance what about you!!😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄.Are you all clowns????
Are you proud living in a colony of so many fools?
Skerrit is a WICKED AND EVIL SOUL!!
He uses the unsuspecting ones like you, who can’t engage the brain to his own selfish ends!! He does not love you or know you, he uses you and laughs at your level of dumbness.
Yup, you just re-confirmed your obsession…”Skerrit!”
Isn’t he the person in charge of everything? His words, not mine. YOU just need to face the truth and stay away from your cheap propaganda. The days of your hero are numbered. The electoral reform is going to be the last nail in his coffin. I wonder what’s going to happen to the likes of YOU and your red comrades then. Have you ever thought about that?
Skerrit loves to throw words around, but if you look closely, his words are utterly meaningless. He says a lot of things and immediately moves on to doing nothing.
I can’t count the numbers of times he made empty promises with absolutely no intention of seeing them to fruition.
Mrs Mckenzie you should resign forthwith. DOMLEC makes millions of dollars in profit every single year.
Are you telling me that you do not plan to replace the aging generators? no preventative maintenance?
Papa met look resilience Papa. Was it spider 🕷 the late calypsonian who said we were going down slowly?
@Sikiye
You’re asking the messenger to resign.
What I understood from the article is that replacement plans and preventative maintenance expenditures have to be approved by the IRC but have been denied.
The government is now the major shareholder, so the polling station is the only way to see a change at DOMLEC.
Rasta, you have a lot of years of eating pasta before you see a change in government in Dominica. So, you might as well grab a log and chill with some cannabis tea.
Domlec stop the nonsense allu charging ppl so much money for power that allu was making millions in profit. allu couldn’t have bought new generators and upgraded the system?! stop the sh..!!! Domlec take all the money and buy new ride and now allu spoiling ppl appilances because of allu failure to upgrade allu system. do better come up with something new. we not stupid.
in a country that has geothermal potential, a constant cross wind on the east coast, constant churning Atlantic Ocean, hydro potential…. just stay and fete and not pay attention. the Haitian example is right there for all to see. first Caribbean nation to go independent, first one to fail. keep putting people before country (politicians)
According to my granny; “Lennox did veertee allu but zoh parkar tan! Look who laughing now
. Hospitals in shambles, Doctors on go slow, Island in darkness and heat, Murderers running wild, Police harassing citizens for court fines, Prostitutes stop all quadee. What else? Yet still we have the starboy of stupidity living in his very own mansion and getting paid $64000.00 a month to do it. I can assure you he has a generator so he is not affected. Chou nou toute PAYTAY! Dcans rise up before its too late.
pure rubbish by DOMLEC!!!!
So much profit you all made…worse mustake was SELLING SHARES TO THIS GOVERNMENT!!!!everything they touch. SPOILS!!!!!
How come Dumbnicans not taking to the streets.
I repeat ad nauseam. Anything Roosevelt and his evangelists embrace turns to ashes. DOMLEC is just the latest victim. The economy, agriculture, manufacturing, rule of law, good governance, CBI funds have all suffered a similar fate.
Roosevelt and his insanely corrupt adherents have left a long and sorry trail of destruction around Dominica. Nothing has been spared.
They are taking to the streets everyday, to the supermarkets to buy groceries, to the malls to buy new clothing and housewares, to the hardware stores to buy hardware, to offices to work and to payment centers to pay their bills and to the banks to conduct transactions. How else do you want them to take to the streets?
they won’t Learn, let an election come up. triple kay will play 5 jam before that. rum will drink and they go vote them man back in. fete so important. live not.
you go eat rum and put it in the bank account.