Dust and Rain Caused 10-Hour Blackout in San Pedro

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) says it was equipment failures that led to the ten-hour outage on San Pedro yesterday. San Pedro residents were without power from around 6:35 Monday evening until 4:38 this morning. BEL explained that light rain fell onto equipment already coated with excessive dust and salt contamination – a common issue in coastal areas. This mixture caused what’s known as “tracking,” where electricity essentially leaks from the power lines and equipment down to the ground, triggering electrical faults and knocking out power. Crews worked through the night to address the problem. The San Pedro Fire Department was called in to assist, helping utility workers wash down contaminated equipment and structures at the main San Pedro Substation. The San Pedro Gas Turbine was also fired up during the outage to help support the island’s power demand. While power is back on now, the work isn’t completely finished. Officials say that over the next few days, crews will continue washing and maintaining other equipment suspected of being affected by the severe contamination. They caution that this essential maintenance may require some brief, planned power interruptions in specific areas to ensure the safety of the technicians working on the lines. The utility provider expressed thanks to the San Pedro Fire Department for their assistance, and praised their own power line technicians, electrical and mechanical crews, and support staff for their hard work and dedication in getting the lights back on.