Police are investigating after a "sick" radio DJ posing as a Belco officer caused several businesses to shut down.

Hott 107.5 prankster Thaao Dill phoned companies to say Belco would be turning off power to parts of Hamilton.

He later admitted the hoax, saying he was testing the readiness of businesses to work with Belco in an emergency.

The names of those he called would be put in a draw to win a trip to Atlanta.

But the prank sparked a furious response from Belco which alerted the Police.

"It is appallingly irresponsible," said Belco spokeswoman Linda Smith.

"Our customers have gone through enough in the last couple of days.

"We are doing everything we can to get things back to normal and to call people up and pose as Belco is basically sick. There is nothing funny about this."

Among businesses taken in by the prank was law firm Marshall Diel & Myers in Sofia House, Church Street, which received a call just before 3 p.m. yesterday.

According to receptionist Pam Kiernan, the hoaxer said Belco would be shutting down power to parts of Hamilton, including Sofia House. She was told to turn off and unplug all electrical equipment in the office.

Ms Kiernan followed the "Belco officer's" instructions, even turning off the law firm's telephone system. At that stage she was called away and handed the telephone to the office manager.

"When I came back the office manager told me it was a hoax and I should disregard everything this person had said."

The office manager, she said, told her the caller had simply wanted their opinion on how they would feel if Belco turned off power to Hamilton, adding that their names would now go in a draw to win a trip to Atlanta.

Ms Kiernan said it took her almost a half an hour to power the system back up.

Belco spokeswoman Linda Smith said Belco's chiefs were livid.

"We called the Police," Mrs. Smith said, adding Deputy Police Commissioner George Jackson stepped in after Belco CEO and president Garry Madeiros reported the complaint.

Belco recorded and transcribed the live call placed to the law firm.

The transcript reports how a Hott 107.5 disc jockey spoke with a person on the phone telling her to power down her computers.

Belco said the DJ had misrepresented himself by speaking with a lisp.

"Log off. You want to turn it off. Shut it right down. I'm just checking to?give me a couple of seconds. I'm just looking at my screen right here?and on my screen it says, you guys are incredible public citizens!" the D.J yelled. "I'm just playing! Y'all might be going to Atlanta. I'm testing the business community to see how willing you guys are to work with Belco to get stuff up again. Trust me. I'm just playing. We aren't doing any testing. Thank you for playing along and you're good public citizens concern with the restoration process."

Last night an apologetic Mr. Dill said he never meant to hurt anyone's feelings. "It was just supposed to be something silly to make people laugh. And it did."

He said there was nothing bad he could say about Belco because the company had done a terrific job following the blackout. "I tried to call Garry Madeiros and apologise, but he was not available so I spoke to Ms Smith."

He said Ms Smith described the hoax as "very silly".

"I feel really bad. I never meant to upset anyone."

Hott 107.5 business manager Isadore Lee said the radio station had been running programming all day yesterday for a chance to win a tour in Atlanta.

"This is a promotion," Ms Lee said.

However, Ms Lee could not confirm whether or not the programming took place as "she had been in the back all day" and had not been listening to the radio.

Ms Lee is filling in for Hott 107.5 president and managing director Glenn Blakeney who is currently off the Island.