Is the electricity reliable in Bocas Del Toro, Panama? Are there blackouts or brownouts in Bocas Del Toro, Panama?
monique born - Tesoro Escondido Eco Lodge and Cabinas
Nothing in the Bocas Del Toro area (and i would even say Panama at large) is 100 percent reliable. I live off the grid so we are not always privy to all the problems, but it is a fact that the electricity goes out now and then, and so does the water. No electricity could mean something as simple as the electricity company servicing their generator or it could be due to the replacement of a part. Once in a while repairs are preformed on the town lines, and a segment will be without power...
Nothing in the Bocas Del Toro area (and i would even say Panama at large) is 100 percent reliable. I live off the grid so we are not always privy to all the problems, but it is a fact that the electricity goes out now and then, and so does the water. No electricity could mean something as simple as the electricity company servicing their generator or it could be due to the replacement of a part. Once in a while repairs are preformed on the town lines, and a segment will be without power while the rest is not affected. I cannot remember when the power might have been off for more than a day, and that would be rare as well. When the power goes off, it is for a couple of hours. In the entire archipelago of Bocas, only Bocas town, Bastimento town, Carenero and a small part of Solarte have power service. Everyone else lives off the grid.
Posted April 24, 2013
Anne-Michelle Wand - United Country Bocas del Toro
Although the electricity is mostly reliable in Bocas del Toro, we do have black outs for an hour or so on a regular basis. If you live in town and depend on the city electricity, this can be an annoyance. Many people find more reliability by living off grid and creating their own electricity with solar or wind. It is perfect for here and all the outer islands have to do it that way.
They have recently built and are using a new power plant so I expect less...
Although the electricity is mostly reliable in Bocas del Toro, we do have black outs for an hour or so on a regular basis. If you live in town and depend on the city electricity, this can be an annoyance. Many people find more reliability by living off grid and creating their own electricity with solar or wind. It is perfect for here and all the outer islands have to do it that way.
They have recently built and are using a new power plant so I expect less power outages from now on. They have to improve the infrastructure in order for development to happen here. For example, the airport was built in 1996. The roads were mostly paved around 2004. Now, increasing electricity capacity, upgrading the water systems and municipal services like trash and recycling are next.
Posted February 17, 2014
JB Seligman - BUENA VISTA REALTY located in BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA
Yes, there are blackouts in Bocas Del Toro. For the most part, it is okay and it all depends usually on when a lot of tourists are here for the holidays, which is when we have problems with electricity. The system overloads and there will be a blackout. The power goes out anywhere from 5 minutes to 6 hours, depending on the situation. Usually, when it’s Carnival (pictured), Mother’s Day, or any major holidays and there are a lot of people from Panama City and David, who...Yes, there are blackouts in Bocas Del Toro. For the most part, it is okay and it all depends usually on when a lot of tourists are here for the holidays, which is when we have problems with electricity. The system overloads and there will be a blackout. The power goes out anywhere from 5 minutes to 6 hours, depending on the situation. Usually, when it’s Carnival (pictured), Mother’s Day, or any major holidays and there are a lot of people from Panama City and David, who come here in Bocas, it is tough on the electric grid. When the power goes out, you just wait for it to come back. That’s all you can do. Some people have generators, but most people just wait because the power usually does not go out long enough to really spoil things and people here in Bocas are used to it. People in the grocery stores take their frozen food and put them in deep freezers, while the power is off. The expats adapt to the situation and to the local Panamanians who live here, it is just the way of life.
When I first got here, there were only three fiber glass boats and all the water taxis were cayucos (dugout canoe) that are traveling with a little 15-horsepower motor on the back. In 10 short years, there is now 200 fiber glass water taxi boats here in Bocas. That is because there is a lot of demand due to tourism. All this growth in population and demand causes the problems to the electrical system.
Posted March 18, 2015