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Grid infrastructureTrinidad and TobagoEIR-1044

Cable failure causes explosion at T&TEC substation in Reform, Trinidad

June 2021Published 18 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorElectrical
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
T&TEC substation in Reform
Operator
T&TEC
What
Explosion from 12 kV cable failure
Injuries
None reported
Cause
Failure of a 12 kV medium voltage cable

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): T&TEC, Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission

What happened

An explosion occurred at the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) substation in Reform at around 1am. The incident was caused by the failure of a 12 kV medium voltage cable. Video footage circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke, fire and rumbling noises from the plant. The fault caused a disruption to electricity supply for customers in Bonne Aventure and other areas of Gasparillo. According to T&TEC's Area Manager, the system's built-in safety mechanism de-energised the circuit once the fault occurred, isolating the affected section.

Repair crews transferred customers to alternative supply and carried out repairs to the damaged cable. Power was restored to affected customers within approximately two hours. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Contributing factors

The explosion was attributed to the failure of a 12 kV medium voltage cable at the substation.

Lessons learned

  1. A 12 kV cable failure at a substation can produce smoke and noise, so operators should rely on automatic isolation rather than immediate on-site entry.
  2. Medium voltage cable faults at substations require pre-planned transfer routes to limit customer outage time to two hours or less.
  3. Visible plumes of smoke and fire after a cable fault do not always mean major damage if the protection system isolates the section quickly.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the cable failure
  • Age and model of the failed cable
  • Cost of repairs and replacement

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

guardian.co.tt

Published 2026-09-18. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in Trinidad and Tobago: 3 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: power line and cable failures.

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