Cayman’s power grid remains exposed to major hurricanes

More than 80% of Grand Cayman’s electricity transmission and distribution network remains above ground and potentially exposed to destructive hurricane winds, falling trees and flying debris, Caribbean Utilities Company has confirmed.

Although the company has invested heavily in strengthening its infrastructure since Hurricane Ivan devastated Grand Cayman in 2004, it acknowledges that another major hurricane could cause extensive disruption, and it cannot predict how long electricity restoration might take.

Responding to questions from the Cayman Compass following an examination of the Islands’ disaster vulnerability published on 13 Oct., CUC confirmed that approximately 82% of its 491-mile transmission and distribution network remains above ground. That places it ahead of Jamaica, which has very little electricity transmission and distribution underground, but lagging behind Bermuda, which has 100% of transmission and 40% of distribution underground.

While improvements have been made, the figures highlight the continuing exposure of one of Grand Cayman’s most essential services to a powerful hurricane.

Stronger infrastructure, but risks remain

CUC says it has invested in resilience projects for more than 20 years, benefiting approximately 3,000 homes and critical infrastructure.

Since Ivan, the company has upgraded its transmission design standards to withstand winds of up to 150 miles per hour, while overhead infrastructure is designed for wind speeds ranging from 108 miles per hour to 150 miles per hour.

However, Category 5 hurricanes have sustained winds exceeding 157 miles per hour, potentially surpassing the design standards of even the company’s strongest overhead infrastructure.

In a written response to questions from the Cayman Compass, Jessica Pawlik, manager, external communications for CUC, said seven of its nine substations are now indoor gas-insulated switchgear facilities designed to withstand Category 5 hurricane conditions and elevated to reduce flooding exposure.

The company is also continuing to place critical electricity lines underground in parts of George Town to support faster restoration following a major storm.

Currently, its underground infrastructure includes approximately 64.7 miles of distribution lines, 2.7 miles of transmission lines and 14 miles of high-voltage submarine cables.

However, expanding underground infrastructure comes at a considerable cost.

“These projects are significantly more expensive than overhead infrastructure, and CUC evaluates each project on a case-by-case basis to ensure undergrounding is undertaken where appropriate and at the lowest reasonable cost,” the company said.

Underground cables can reduce exposure to wind and flying debris, although they are not immune to flooding, damage to associated equipment or potentially complicated repairs.

No firm restoration timeline

Following Hurricane Ivan, electricity restoration continued for several months, disrupting homes, businesses and essential services across Grand Cayman.

With the population having approximately doubled since 2004, another prolonged outage could affect substantially more residents and businesses, alongside an economy increasingly dependent on uninterrupted electricity and telecommunications.

Asked whether it had modelled restoration timelines following a hurricane comparable to Ivan, CUC did not provide an estimate.

“No two hurricanes are the same, and the impact and current economic conditions will differ,” the company said.

“While we cannot predict timelines, the company continues to learn from utilities in the region and our own experiences with a goal of consistent enhancement,” CUC added.

CUC said it conducts comprehensive annual hurricane exercises involving teams across the organisation, assessing potential damage and restoration procedures.

It also has access to additional personnel and resources through majority shareholder Fortis Inc., regional utility organisation the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation and local contractors.

Nevertheless, the absence of a projected restoration timeframe leaves uncertainty over how long Grand Cayman might remain without electricity following another catastrophic hurricane.

Essential services depend on electricity

Extended outages could have consequences beyond households, potentially affecting water production and distribution, telecommunications, wastewater treatment, tourism and financial services.

CUC said essential service providers maintain backup generation arrangements and that electricity restoration follows an established priority system.

Following the official all-clear, crews assess damage and begin repairs, prioritising the North Sound power plant, followed by critical transmission lines serving emergency services, businesses and residential customers.

The company said it coordinates with Hazard Management Cayman Islands and other essential service providers through the National Emergency Operations Centre.

“Our current Emergency Preparedness Plan establishes a clear hierarchy for restoration of essential services to ensure that Grand Cayman is in a position to recover swiftly,” CUC stated.

However, backup generators themselves depend on fuel supplies, maintenance and functioning distribution systems, raising broader questions about the ability of essential services to operate independently during prolonged disruptions.

Vegetation remains a challenge

Despite improvements to infrastructure, CUC identified fallen trees and vegetation obstructing access as a significant obstacle to restoring electricity.

“In storm situations, the greatest challenge has often been vegetation such as downed trees preventing access to areas requiring restoration,” the company said.

CUC maintains that investments in strengthened overhead lines, substations, underground cables and emergency preparedness have substantially improved the electricity system since Ivan.

But with most of the network still above ground, the possibility of widespread disruption remains.

The challenge is not simply whether the electricity system can withstand another major hurricane, but how quickly Grand Cayman’s increasingly interconnected economy and essential services could recover if large sections of the grid were damaged.

CUC says it remains committed to strengthening the network while balancing resilience improvements against the need to maintain affordable electricity.

Further information on CUC’s hurricane preparations is available on the company’s disaster preparedness webpage.