PHILIPSBURG--Electricity supply to the island remains touch-and-go as utilities company GEBE waits on sea conditions to return to normal, and damage to high and low tension infrastructure to be addressed.

After the initial assessments, the damage to GEBE's high tension and low tension distribution grid was reported to be minimal. According to GEBE, approximately 80 to 95 per cent of the grid is intact and can be powered once the electricity supply has been stabilized.

The Cay Bay power plant said seaweed has begun to settle and the plant has started the sea water cooled engines to test the situation. This, combined with the repairs throughout the distribution grid, should have restored power completely by Wednesday afternoon.

However, there was no guarantee that electricity supply would be constant as seas were still affecting the plant up to early Wednesday evening.

GEBE teams were deployed to most districts to begin the process of repairs and restoration. Teams could be seen throughout Cole Bay, Cay Bay, Middle Region/Dutch Quarter, Pointe Blanche, Sucker Garden, and LB Scott Road/ St. Peters /Reward areas.

The teams focused first on the primary areas of distribution, the high tension lines, and transformers then started work on the secondary areas, the low tension lines, leaning poles, and finally individual house connections.

The water distribution situation improved on Wednesday with most tanks being filled. The water distribution team looked to supply the water pumps with electricity first in order to supply the outer areas as well with water. Areas that are still experiencing no water as of mid-afternoon Wednesday were Pointe Blanche, Cole Bay, Pelican, St. Peters, and Reward.