The British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) has introduced a 12-week Live-Line Training Programme aimed at equipping its lineworkers with the ability to conduct repairs and maintenance on live electrical lines without interrupting service to customers.
The program, which is in the final weeks of training its first cohort, is designed to improve system reliability and enhance worker safety. The initial group of trainees—Ronald Baird, Damian Richardson, Edward Pollock, and Shaquil Samuel—are being instructed by Tim Self, owner of the U.S.-based Tim Self Powerline Safety and Training.
The training consists of three stages: four weeks of classroom instruction, followed by four weeks of practical training on de-energized lines, and concluding with four weeks of live fieldwork across Tortola.
Self, who has worked extensively with utility crews in the region, said the training shifts the safety mindset from assuming a line is inactive to treating every line as live. “The assumption now is the line is hot, so they’re going to take all their safety precautions before they touch it,” he said. “You will find a reduction in incidents just off of that.”
The training also aims to eliminate the need to cut power during routine maintenance, which can cause hours-long outages. With this new approach, repairs can be performed without customers experiencing service interruptions.
Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer observed the lineworkers during a recent live training session and acknowledged the program’s broader implications.
“This not only enhances the reliability of our power infrastructure but also demonstrates our commitment to investing in the professional development of our workforce and delivering uninterrupted service to the people of the Virgin Islands,” Rymer said.
BVIEC’s General Manager, Dr. Neil Smith, described the initiative as a critical advancement for the corporation. “It speaks to innovation, safety, and reliability—all of which are critical to our mission,” he said. “I commend the team for embracing this new level of professional capability.”
Following the pilot, BVIEC plans to expand the training to more lineworkers as part of a long-term strategy to bolster grid resilience and reduce outages throughout the Territory.
