October 16, 2001
BEL gets help for power restoration from Cayman Is., Guatemala

Some 7 CUC technical personnel, comprised of six linemen and a crew leader, will arrive in Belize this afternoon, October 16, 2001, as part of assistance rendered through the Caribbean Electric Utilities Association's (CARILEC) Hurricane Assistance Plan.

This plan allows the CARILEC membership (of which both BEL and CUC are members) to give joint manpower assistance to any CARILEC member that has suffered hurricane damage. Prior to the start of the hurricane season each year, three separate crews comprising of six linemen and a crew leader are put on standby. Once initial assessment of the damage and needs of the stricken utility are assessed, the decision is made to deploy personnel to the stricken utility.

"We are very glad to have received this assistance from CUC," said Felix Murrin, Vice President Operations at BEL. "These men come highly skilled and we will be deploying them to the Placencia Pensinsula to help expedite the reconstruction of our distribution system there."

CUC, coincidentally, is also a sister company to BEL as Fortis, Inc., parent company of BEL, has held a 20 percent interest in that utility since March 2000.

BEL has also received help from the Guatemalan government-owned Utility, Instituto Nacional de Electricidad (INDE). On Saturday, October 13, 2001, INDE dispatched a specialized utility truck for the installation of poles and a three-man pole installation crew to help with the reconstruction of lines in Placencia.

BEL may also be getting some assistance from Comission Federal de Electricidad (CFE) in Mexico. Last year, CFE had sent two utility trucks and two operators to help with the power restoration effort in San Pedro after Hurricane Keith.

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