Roseau, Dominica, August 2026: Dominica Electricity Services Ltd. (DOMLEC) extends sincere apologies to customers for outages experienced across Dominica, in some instances for extended periods, between Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15, 2026; and acknowledges the significant inconvenience as a result. These outages were due to a series of incidents which disrupted electricity supply in several communities.
Acting General Manager, Ellise Darwton acknowledged the impact of the prolonged outages on customers and said the company accepts responsibility for identifying opportunities to improve its response.
“We understand how difficult it is to be without electricity for several hours, particularly overnight and into the following day. Customers depend on electricity for their homes, businesses, food storage, communication and many other essential activities. We sincerely apologise for the disruption and frustration experienced,” Ms. Darwton said.
She also acknowledged concerns about communication during prolonged outages.
“We recognise that customers need timely information, particularly during a prolonged outage. While updates were provided through national radio and social media, we are reviewing how we communicate during major incidents and identifying additional, more grassroots ways of reaching customers who may not have access to electronic devices or internet service when their electricity is off,” she said.
Customers were affected by four major outages during the 24 hours, with the first occurring at 4:29 AM on Friday, followed by another at 1:09 PM. Both outages were due to the disconnection of the geothermal plant from the system. While the first issue was restored at 7:30 AM, restoration for the second outage was hampered by vegetation issues and inclement weather. At 10:30 PM, a tree fell on high-tension lines in Fond Canie, and at 4:00 AM on Saturday, service to the East Coast and Laudat was interrupted. Restoration took place progressively throughout Saturday, with supply being returned to the majority of affected areas by 2:00 PM.
For DOMLEC Engineering, Transmission & Distribution Manager Daryl Dalrymple, the recent events highlight some of the challenges associated with the ongoing transformation of Dominica’s electricity system.
“The electricity sector is going through a significant transition, and we are working with the system we currently have while progressing the completion of the geothermal project and associated infrastructure,” Mr. Dalrymple said.
He explained that the geothermal project is currently in Phase One of a three-phase development, and DOMLEC continues to work to optimise the use of the new generation capacity while addressing the technical challenges that arise.
“We know that customers expect reliable electricity, and that expectation is completely understandable. It is critical, however, that we get it right, that we resolve all the issues and the problems that we are experiencing now to have a better, more reliable system.”
Mr. Dalrymple also acknowledged the work of DOMLEC employees who responded to the incidents under challenging weather conditions.
“Safety is one of our core values. We have to balance the safety of our employees, contractors and the public with customers’ needs for restoration of services. Our employees must be able to return safely to their families,” he said.
DOMLEC thanks its customers for their patience and understanding during the outages and apologises for the disruption experienced. The company remains committed to addressing the challenges identified, completing the ongoing system upgrades and building a stronger and more reliable electricity network that will deliver long-term benefits to Dominica and its people.
