Many Bermuda homes and businesses might have their electricity shut off as temperatures rise in July and August.

The warning was sounded yesterday by Bermuda Electric Light Company CEO Garry Madeiros.

Mr. Madeiros told Hamilton Rotarians he was planning for the worst this summer in case Belco could not meet demand.

Power outages might be forced or planned and could last two hours or two days depending on the size of the problem.

"More electricity will be needed this August than ever before,'' he said.

Mr. Madeiros said the projected demand for August was 118 megawatts. In 2004, Belco was supposed to be able to make 147 megawatts but because the diesel engines were air cooled ? not liquid cooled ? when the air outside was warmer, they did not work as efficiently, added Mr. Madeiros.

This meant that even though Belco should be able to produce 147 megawatts of electricity, only 140 megawatts could be made in the summer because of warm temperatures and humidity.

Mr. Madeiros said that there were 19 engines at Belco. But if two of them broke down ? for example, the eight megawatt and the ten megawatt engines ? then Belco would barely be able to meet Bermuda's electricity needs.

"If those two engines break down then we would be at 122 megawatts, which is close to 118 (the projected demand for August)".

Belco was getting two new engines in August, but they would not be operational until April, 2005, he said. In the last two years demand for electricity had increased.

He said fuel, oil and water leaks were where the engine problems started.

However, Mr. Madeiros later told that should any forced outages take place on the Island, then electricity would definitely be turned on again by 9 a.m. the next day.

"People will work all night until the power is there again," he said, adding any planned outages would occur over a weekend.

He said that he was writing to Belco customers to get them to reduce the amount of electricity they use.

He was advising the public not to waste electricity with "anything involving heat". His advice was turn off the air conditioner when not at home, cool only the rooms in use, use the air conditioner in the evenings, use clothes' dryers in off peak hours and unplug water heaters or reduce their temperature.

Mr. Madeiros said that reducing the amount of electricity customers used would have three main advantages. It would help Belco to produce enough electricity for Bermuda, prevent power outages and reduce the cost of electricity bills.