Recent investigations undertaken by Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) have revealed several residents and businesses have purchased an alleged “energy saving device” from a local company.
Through our investigations and discussions with affected customers, GBPC learned that these businesses purchased what they believed was an energy-saving device from a local company. These businesses are a victim of fraud and were in fact either connected directly to GBPC’s power system via a meter bypass, or the meters were tampered with to under-read actual usage.
These devices are not energy saving devices.
To date, at every location inspected by GBPC and the RBPF in the presence of the owners, it has been shown that all “devices” are simply boxes consisting of bogus wiring with red or green lights, some with small unconnected LCD screens and sand-filled canisters pretending to be “capacitors” in some instances. These fake boxes do nothing but act as a smokescreen for the dangerous diversion of GBPC’s electricity supply and bypass of our meter infrastructure.
Customers should be made aware that no energy savings devices have been discovered during the course of GBPC’s audits – in each instance the “devices” are simply boxes consisting of bogus wiring with red or green lights, some with small unconnected LCD screens and sand-filled canisters pretending to be “capacitors” in some instances.
All customers with these fake boxes installed throughout the island have been abstracting GBPC electricity supply without paying for the electricity consumed. The devices shown on social media and referenced in news reports are not the devices that have been installed in businesses and homes in Grand Bahama.
Installations to divert GBPC’s electricity supply and bypass our metering infrastructure are extremely dangerous to business owners, homeowners, occupiers, our workers and the public at large. Safety of the public and our workers is our first priority. Therefore, the non-compliant installations must be rectified as soon as possible.
GBPC’s meter was found to have been circumvented and equipment directly connected to GBPC’s grid, not allowing for GBPC to accurately bill the customer for energy consumed.
Presently, the number of such fake devices and non-compliant installations are unknown to us.
GBPC is, and will continue to be the leading proponent for the adoption of energy savings and renewable energy on the Island, and we will continue to provide our customers with the support they need to legitimately reduce their energy costs.
Customers are reminded to never disconnect electrical equipment without the help of a licenced electrician with the power supply isolated at the pole by GBPC. GBPC urges the public to report any suspected wiring and electrical system irregularities without delay in order for us to address these serious safety issues.
Customers can call our 24hr hotline on 352-8411 or toll free at 242-300-4826.