Hurricane in Yucatan shorts Belize of electricity

We may have dodged Hurricane Isidore, but its effects on the Yucatan peninsula may yet be felt in Belize. According to a release today from Belize Electricity Limited, the damage to the power grid around Merida may mean that less electricity will be available for sale to Belize. Mexico normally supplies about twenty-five megawatts or sixty percent of Belize’s electricity, but on Sunday, due to the hurricane, the Comision Federal de Electricidad could only deliver six megawatts. This led to brief outages in Corozal and Orange Walk until B.E.L.’s diesel and hydro plant could make up the shortfall. Although B.E.L. expects the situation to stabilise shortly, there is still the possibility of sporadic blackouts until the Mexican grid is fully restored.