Unexpected Power Outage Leaves Belize Sweating

On Monday night, Belizeans endured an unexpected power outage that left many sweltering in the heat for up to an hour. The blackout, which began at 11:50 p.m., affected the entire country except for those with solar power. With summer fast approaching, such power failures are particularly unwelcome. Belize Electricity Limited (B.E.L.) attributed the outage to a sudden generation emergency in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, which forced their main supplier, Comisión Federal de Electricidad, to cut off electricity to Belize. Despite the disruption, B.E.L. quickly initiated restoration efforts using in-country generation supplies, including the San Pedro and Mile Eight gas turbines. Power was restored to the north and west by 12:28 a.m., with full restoration completed by 12:47 a.m. As temperatures rise, the reliability of power supply remains a critical concern for Belizeans.