WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao residents could face temporary power outages starting at 10:00 p.m. tonight, Monday, October 26, as utility company Aqualectra struggles to maintain sufficient electricity generation capacity following an unexpected drop in wind conditions. The company warned that electricity demand is exceeding available supply, forcing it to implement controlled power interruptions to prevent further instability in the system.
In an official statement issued Monday evening, Aqualectra explained that unusually low wind conditions during the afternoon created an imbalance between electricity generation and demand.
The lack of sufficient wind prevented the company's battery storage systems from recharging fully, leaving less stored electricity available to support the grid during the evening's peak consumption hours.
According to Aqualectra, the situation has been aggravated by high temperatures, which have increased electricity consumption as households and businesses rely more heavily on air conditioning and other cooling equipment.
The company confirmed that repair work on its electricity generation units has progressed significantly. Of the four machines that had been undergoing repairs, only one still requires additional work, with replacement parts expected to arrive from overseas.
Two other generating units were temporarily taken out of service earlier Monday for minor maintenance work but have since returned to operation.
Despite these improvements, Aqualectra said the combination of insufficient wind generation, limited battery reserves, and higher-than-usual electricity demand has created a capacity shortage that cannot be avoided tonight.
As a result, the company expects to begin controlled power interruptions, locally known as "schakel," at approximately 10:00 p.m. to maintain the balance between electricity generation and consumption.
Aqualectra warned that the situation remains unpredictable because available generation capacity and electricity demand may fluctuate throughout the evening.
Consequently, the company cannot provide an exact schedule indicating which neighborhoods will lose electricity or at what time.
However, Aqualectra assured customers that any interruption should last no longer than two hours.
The utility company urged residents to follow its official communication channels for updates on possible outages and changes in electricity supply conditions.
The announcement once again highlights the challenges facing Curaçao's electricity system when unfavorable weather conditions reduce renewable energy production during periods of high demand.
