Is the electricity reliable in Belize? Are there blackouts or brownouts in Belize?

Like in other countries there are blackouts every now and then here in Belize, but in general, electricity is reliable.

 

All electric power comes from Mexico, so if there is a problem over there, that is the only time we get blackouts in Belize. The typical power uptime will approximate 99.8%.

Like in other countries there are blackouts every now and then here in Belize, but in general, electricity is reliable.

 

All electric power comes from Mexico, so if there is a problem over there, that is the only time we get blackouts in Belize. The typical power uptime will approximate 99.8%.

We have noticed in Belize is that the power has become a bit more reliable. It used to be that you would have blackouts at least three or four times a week. There are some villages that don’t even have power running through them and they use a generator.  

 

The national power grid is more reliable now. Not too long ago, the government of Japan donated funds to build a 500-megawatt solar array at the University of Belize in Belmopan that...

We have noticed in Belize is that the power has become a bit more reliable. It used to be that you would have blackouts at least three or four times a week. There are some villages that don’t even have power running through them and they use a generator.  

 

The national power grid is more reliable now. Not too long ago, the government of Japan donated funds to build a 500-megawatt solar array at the University of Belize in Belmopan that feeds back into the grid. I think that is a good sign. Even the power that they buy from Mexico is generated through hydro-electric facilities but it’s gotten more reliable. 

 

In my project and a number of other expats have chosen to go “off grid” and go with solar power.  Because of the abundance of sunshine that we get here in Belize, it’s a very good alternative. 

 

People go off grid for different reasons. Some people do it because they are happy to save the planet. Most people do it because of their independence and for the peace of mind and because the cost for electricity in Belize is fairly high. It’s US 27.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.  In California the rate is 15.2 cents; in Hawaii, its 33 cents, and in Texas, it’s a little over 11 cents.   The cost for electricity in Belize does add up, so with the right solar package, over time, they save quite a bit of money in the supply of electricity and they have control.  

 

People like having the independence from a utility company and from the grid and know that their price is not subject to the utility company raising it in the future.  The utility company may change the price of electricity some months from now and I don’t think that anybody will predict that energy is going to be less expensive and more reliable coming off a traditional grid. 

 

The picture above is of a house with a solar collector, at Carmelita Gardens, Belize.

Belize has electrical blackouts for a variety of reasons. Recently, at least in the Corozal area, they are localized due to infrastructure improvements underway. Mexico supplies about 60% of the power coming into Belize, so sometimes at peak times they do cut things off. Belize is now working on their regulations to allow more suppliers and methodologies to enter into the picture. 

 

Cerros Sands, for example, where we are...

Belize has electrical blackouts for a variety of reasons. Recently, at least in the Corozal area, they are localized due to infrastructure improvements underway. Mexico supplies about 60% of the power coming into Belize, so sometimes at peak times they do cut things off. Belize is now working on their regulations to allow more suppliers and methodologies to enter into the picture. 

 

Cerros Sands, for example, where we are working, is off the grid, so we don’t have blackouts, and its no issue for us. 

 

If you are on the grid, there are some months when you don’t lose power at all.   But there are days when you may not have power from 7 AM to 7 PM while they are working in your neighborhood.  

 

The larger scale blackouts where something major goes down from Mexico to Belize or something in Belize to Belize is rare. Years back, Ambergris Caye was without power for days at a time, but that is no longer the case.  

 

On a typical month, a blackout happens maybe once for a couple of hours. 

 

(Pictured: off the grid home being built at Cerros Sands, Corozol, Belize.)

Here in Belize, we do get brownouts on occasion. Generally, when there is a bad weather situation, a blackout happens but Belize Electric Limited is quick about getting the power back up as quickly as possible.

 

We had a major rainstorm recently and it was really the first major rain system that we had through all the rainy season this year and we were without power for two hours. In the past 12 months that I have been, we had blackouts once every other...

Here in Belize, we do get brownouts on occasion. Generally, when there is a bad weather situation, a blackout happens but Belize Electric Limited is quick about getting the power back up as quickly as possible.

 

We had a major rainstorm recently and it was really the first major rain system that we had through all the rainy season this year and we were without power for two hours. In the past 12 months that I have been, we had blackouts once every other month, which lasted for around an hour.

 

(Storm seen coming in from a condo on the lagoon in Ambergris Caye, Belize, pictured.)

Belize gets its electric supply from Mexico. The entire country of Belize has electricity. We get our electric bills every month and we pay.

 

Blackouts occur sometimes but it doesn’t happen a lot. There would be a blackout maybe once in every 3 months and it only goes for an hour at the most. We get notices via TV or radio that there will be a blackout so everybody can prepare their candles and rechargeable flashlights.

 

We...

Belize gets its electric supply from Mexico. The entire country of Belize has electricity. We get our electric bills every month and we pay.

 

Blackouts occur sometimes but it doesn’t happen a lot. There would be a blackout maybe once in every 3 months and it only goes for an hour at the most. We get notices via TV or radio that there will be a blackout so everybody can prepare their candles and rechargeable flashlights.

 

We still have electricity even if there is a storm unless lightning damages something that affects the electricity, at which point, we can get a blackout or a brownout without notice. But that rarely happens.  

 

(Townhall in Corozal, Belize, pictured.)