WILLEMSTAD – Utility company Aqualectra does not expect to implement another round of scheduled power interruptions this week, saying there is currently sufficient electricity generation capacity to meet demand.
The announcement follows Saturday’s electricity shortages, when Aqualectra was forced to interrupt power supplies in several neighborhoods from the afternoon until late at night.
The company began switching neighborhoods off the grid at approximately 2:30 p.m., earlier than initially anticipated. According to Aqualectra, a combination of high temperatures beginning early in the day, fluctuating winds and several generating units being unavailable because of maintenance or repairs placed considerable pressure on production capacity.
In recent weeks, Aqualectra had been able to maintain electricity supplies by combining its remaining conventional generating capacity with wind energy and battery storage.
Conditions deteriorated on Saturday, however, as wind speeds dropped significantly. The decline in wind-generated electricity forced Aqualectra to begin using its battery reserves earlier than planned. As available capacity continued to fall, temporary power interruptions became unavoidable.
Because the switching schedule started earlier in the afternoon, some neighborhoods experienced two separate outages during the day.
Aqualectra’s director said the process otherwise proceeded according to plan and stressed that the maximum interruption period of two hours per neighborhood was strictly observed.
The utility says the situation has since stabilized and sufficient generating capacity is currently available, making additional switching unlikely this week.
Aqualectra emphasized that rotating power interruptions are used only when the electricity system faces an acute shortage of generating capacity. The company says it will immediately inform the public should conditions change and further interruptions become necessary.