WILLEMSTAD – Utility company Aqualectra has received 135 damage claims from customers affected by last week’s islandwide power outage.

The blackout began on Tuesday, August 27, at 2:51 a.m. and lasted nearly 24 hours. Aqualectra started gradually restoring electricity at 2:41 p.m. that same day, with full service returning to all households and businesses by 1:08 a.m. on Wednesday. Technicians continued monitoring the grid afterward to ensure stability.

Large clients reconnected later

Major consumers, including hospitals, port cranes, and Aqualectra’s own water treatment facilities, were temporarily disconnected from the network. For operational reasons, these large customers were only gradually reconnected starting at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 28.

According to Aqualectra, it maintained close communication with customers throughout the restoration process. In the days following the outage, all available teams were deployed to safeguard grid stability and resolve isolated interruptions as quickly as possible.

Claims process outlined

The company has also published its claims procedure, allowing customers to request compensation for damaged electronic equipment. Claims submitted with complete information will be processed within ten working days. In some cases, an Aqualectra technician may conduct a home visit to verify the damage.