When most people think of pool safety, they think of drowning, but another serious danger is the danger of electric shock. When skin is dry, it is a very poor conductor of electricity, but when skin is wet, it becomes a much better conductor. Freshwater (with the exception of absolutely pure distilled water), like the water in your pool, hot tub or spa, is also a conductor of electricity. When electricity is flowing, it is always trying to close a circuit. If the water you are in becomes the most convenient path to close the circuit, as the electricity travels one part of you will be more energised than another. That’s when you become the conductor. It’s electricity that passes through you that causes the damage.

To avoid danger this summer the Consumer Product Safety Commission provided the following guidelines to follow for electrical safety around pools, hot tubs and spas that can greatly reduce the risk of electrical shock in the water:

1. Use battery-operated products around your pool, hot tub or spa whenever possible.
2. Avoid touching electrical products or wires when you are wet or in contact with wet surfaces.
3. Do not setup a storable pool or install a permanent pool where power lines are overhead or within 25 feet of the water.
4. Inspect underwater lights as signs of mould or other growth on the inside of the lens can indicate water leakage.
5. While cleaning the pool, keep long-handled tools and poles away from nearby utility power lines, including the ones leading to your home. Hold long-handled tools and poles as low as possible to the ground.
6. Know where all the electrical switches and circuit breakers for the pool, hot tub and spa equipment and lights are located and how to turn them off in an emergency.
7. Label power switches for pool, hot tub and spa equipment and lighting.
8. Have an electrician inspect your underwater lights and make certain that junction boxes and wiring connections to the lighting are correctly and safely installed.
9. Have a licensed electrician who is qualified in pool, hot tub and spa repairs, inspect and upgrade your pool, hot tub or spa in accordance with applicable local codes.

Recognise anyone? If so, let us know at .

Date: Friday, May 31, 2024

On Friday, May 31, 2024, in partnership with Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB), we held a cleanup of the Pembroke Playground and surrounding area.

Hurricane Preparedness Advisory
BELCO advised that with hurricane season beginning on June 1st, the Company has and is taking all the necessary steps to prepare should the island be impacted by a storm this season and encourages the public to prepare as well, specifically as preparations pertain to the trimming of trees.

To read the full press release, visit: Hurricane Preparedness | BELCO

Trim Your Trees. Prevent Outages.
Did you know that falling branches cause most storm-related power outages?

Trim your trees at least 10 feet from power lines to reduce storm-related power outages. Call (295-5111) or email () us 3 weeks in advance to schedule a power shutdown so you can trim safely.

RG Hurricane Feature 2024
It is paramount to commence and maintain our hurricane readiness throughout the entirety of the season as it is of the utmost importance to do what we can – well in advance – to maintain safety and minimise destruction, danger and loss of power.

Check out our placements below:

1. Week 1: The Power of Tree Trimming | BELCO
2. Week 2: How BELCO Prepares for a Storm | BELCO
3. Week 3: What Happens During A Storm? | BELCO

Did you know that much of the energy consumed around water usage is due to appliances consuming electricity in order to heat the water? Being thoughtful about your water usage can result in lower energy costs! 

BELCO Energy Efficiency Tips will help you save the environment, save energy, and save money!

To learn more, visit: Energy Efficiency: Be Water Conscious | BELCO

Pools provide for one of our favourite pastimes during the summer, but are not generally eco-friendly for the following reasons:

1. A pool loses 1/4″ to 1/2″ of water every day due to evaporation – water which needs to be refilled.
2. Pool maintenance requires the heavy use of harmful chemicals, which contribute to the production of greenhouse gases.
3. A pool leak that loses 1 drop of water per second results in the loss of 2,000+ gallons/year.
4. Running a pool heater, pump and other equipment requires the use of a lot of energy.

While some may argue a fully eco-friendly pool is not possible, there are definitely several ways to make your pool a lot eco-friendlier than it probably is right now. Here are some tips on making your pool eco-friendlier this summer from the Pool Care Guy:

1.  Use a pool cover: Using a pool cover can lessen water evaporation by 95% and also help cut down energy usage by keeping heat in the pool when it’s not in use.
2. Use a pool pump timer: Instead of just running your pump continuously, use a pool pump timer to run your pump only at certain intervals during the day, saving a lot of energy resources.
3. Use a solar heater: Solar heaters don’t use resources like gas, need very little electricity to operate and usually pay for themselves in energy savings.
4. Keep your pool filled all year long: The eco-wise reason to keep your pool filled is to keep from having to use all that water every year. Average pool capacities are about 10,000-25,000 gallons: if you drain and refill it, that’s a lot of water wasted.
5. Fix pool leaks: Leaks cause you to have to keep adding water to your pool, which is wasting valuable resources, so be sure to fix a leak whenever it springs up.
6. Use LED lighting: If you have lights installed around your pool, consider using LED, which uses 75% less energy than the traditional incandescent bulb, and lasts 25 times longer.
7. Regularly clean algae out of your pool: Algae is the resource-sucker of the pool world: it eats up your chlorine and forces you to keep adding more. Not only will you have to add to your daily amounts to keep the levels balanced, but you could end up having to shock, double shock or even triple shock your pool, using excess amount of chemicals.

Connect & Join the Conversation
We would love to connect with you. Our online platforms aim to keep you informed of what we are doing at the plant!

BELCO Facebook: @BELCOBermuda
BELCO Twitter: @BELCOBermuda
BELCO Instagram: @BELCOBermuda
BELCO LinkedIn: BELCO Bermuda
BELCO Youtube: BELCO Bermuda

And don’t forget our website is a hub of information on all things BELCO – belco.bm!