Barbados Light & Power Company (BLPC) is urging homeowners to take practical steps to protect themselves, beyond stocking water and tinned food for the hurricane season.
Yesterday, at a press conference held at the company’s corporate offices at Kilowatt Court, Garrison Hill, St Michael, officials put homeowners with solar panel systems on notice that their renewable energy installations could become serious safety hazards if not properly managed before, during and after a storm.
Robert Harewood, manager of the renewable energy business unit said: “We don’t want linemen working on the system and power feeding back.”
He added that BLPC worked with solar customers to ensure isolation switches were operational ahead of any weather event.
Damaged
Harewood also warned homeowners not to simply switch their systems back on once a storm passed, particularly where panels have been physically damaged.
“You yourself could be injured or it could be that someone touching a panel could be injured as well when you turn on that system,” he cautioned.
He further encouraged solar panel owners to keep their insurance current, including personal liability coverage, noting that a damaged system could affect not just the owner but others nearby.
Corporate communications manager Nichole Scantlebury also reminded customers to trim trees around their properties before any system approached.
“Trim your trees, secure your homes, charge essential devices ahead of any approaching system.
Small actions like these can make a meaningful difference in keeping you safe,” she said.
Checklist
Wayne Prescod, director of generation, directed his message not outward to customers but inward at BLPC’s own workforce.
“If the employee is not prepared, then we are not prepared,” he said.
Prescod revealed that the company’s pre-season meetings included direct questions to staff about whether their own homes were storm-ready.
“Are you prepared at home? Have you done the necessary things? Do you have a checklist for preparing your home for a storm?” he asked, as he related some of the questions put to employees each year.
Scantlebury confirmed the company would remain active across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, radio and television throughout the season, providing safety advisories, outage updates and restoration information as situations developed. (DDS)
