St Barts Power Outages: What Visitors Need to Know
St Barts power outages are expected to continue until about mid-November 2026. Since Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the island’s electricity supplier EDF has been running rotating power cuts (“délestages”) across most of St. Barthélemy because two of the main generators at the island’s power plant are out of service at the same time. Each neighborhood loses power for a few hours at a time on a rotating schedule, including overnight, while repairs and scheduled maintenance are completed.
If you are arriving in late October or early November, your trip can still go ahead, but plan for short blackouts at your villa or hotel, and confirm restaurant hours before you go. This guide explains what is happening, which areas have been affected so far, and how to prepare. All figures are as of October 26, 2026, based on reporting by Le Journal de Saint-Barth.
Book a Stay That Fits the Situation
Planning a November trip? Compare villas and ask hosts directly about backup power before you book.
Browse St. Barts Villas →Why St Barts Has Power Outages Right Now
St. Barthélemy’s electricity is produced on the island by EDF’s power plant in Public, next to Gustavia. According to Le Journal de Saint-Barth (October 22, 2026), the plant’s two largest generating units, known as G7 and G8, are both unavailable:
- G8 is in a major scheduled overhaul that EDF says is required by regulation every 68,000 operating hours. On October 21, the work was reported to need just over three more weeks.
- G7 had just come out of maintenance when a fault was detected, and the unit has to be taken apart again for repairs.
Without those two units, the plant is running on six older engines installed between 1988 and 1997 (each rated at up to 3.1 MW) plus temporary rental generators. Peak demand on the island is about 23.6 MW, which leaves a shortfall of roughly 4 to 5 MW at busy times. Rather than risk an island-wide blackout, EDF switches neighborhoods off in turn.
EDF said extra generating equipment was being shipped from Saint-Martin and Guadeloupe in the week of October 20. The utility said this should reduce the number of customers cut off at any one time, but would not end the rotating cuts on its own.
Not the first time in 2026
This is the latest in a series of supply problems this year. Le Journal de Saint-Barth reported load shedding in July and August 2026, linked to maintenance on G7, a fault on G8, and a breakdown of one of the older engines. EDF’s regional director told the paper in September that demand keeps rising and that the plant has little spare capacity. EDF also says consumption grows about 2% a year and that the strain will last until a new power plant is built. No opening date for that plant has been published.
How the Rotating Power Cuts Work
EDF divides the island into sectors and cuts each one for a set block of time, then moves on to the next. On October 20, EDF said each cut would last no more than three hours. The overnight schedule it published for October 20–21 used blocks of three to four hours. At one point on October 20, 1,130 customers were without power at once.
Here is how the overnight rotation of October 20–21, 2026 was split. It shows how the system works, but it is not a fixed timetable: EDF changes the order and the sectors daily.
| Time slot (Oct 20–21) | Examples of areas cut |
|---|---|
| 9:00 pm – midnight | Parts of Gustavia, Lurin, Gouverneur, Grands Bois, Morne Tourterelle, Saint-Jean Carénage, Grande Saline |
| Midnight – 4:00 am | Saint-Jean main road, Gustaf III Airport (SBH) area, La Savane and Les Sables shopping centers, Super U |
| 4:00 am – 8:00 am | Lorient center, Petite Saline road, Grand Cul-de-Sac road, Pointe Milou, Mont Jean, Grand Carénage |
EDF said it would publish a forecast of the next day’s cuts each day. Le Journal de Saint-Barth has been reposting these schedules on its website, which is the easiest place for visitors to check. Residents have complained that cuts sometimes start earlier or end later than announced, so treat any time slot as approximate.
How the Power Cuts Affect Your Trip
Villas and hotels
A villa without a generator will lose air conditioning, pool pumps, Wi-Fi and possibly hot water during its sector’s slot. Some properties have backup generators and some do not, so ask. If you have a stay booked before mid-November, message your host or hotel and ask three things: whether the property has a generator, what it powers (the whole house or only essentials), and whether they have been affected so far.
Restaurants and bars
The timing is hard for restaurants, many of which are reopening for the 2026–27 season. The president of the island’s restaurant association told Le Journal de Saint-Barth that some restaurants had closed at 9 pm or skipped the 6 pm to 9 pm service because of cuts, and some had thrown away food. Book ahead, call on the day to confirm the restaurant is open, and keep a backup plan for dinner. Our guide to visiting St Barts in October, when the island reopens, explains which businesses tend to open late in the season.
What EDF is asking everyone to do
EDF has asked residents, businesses and visitors to cut back on electricity, especially air conditioning and pool pumps. Its advice includes:
- Set air conditioning a little warmer. EDF says raising the temperature by 1°C can save up to 10% of the electricity used.
- Run pool pumps only in daylight, and for as few hours as possible (EDF suggests a minimum of 6 hours).
- Switch off air conditioning in rooms nobody is using.
Following these steps in your villa helps shorten the cuts for everyone, including the island’s residents.
How to Prepare for St Barts Power Outages
A few hours without power is manageable with some planning. If you are traveling before mid-November:
- Pack a power bank and a small flashlight or headlamp. Phones are your main link to hosts, restaurants and taxis.
- Download offline maps of St. Barthélemy before you land, in case Wi-Fi goes down.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed during a cut, and shop for a few days at a time rather than stocking up.
- Check the next day’s schedule each evening and plan beach time, lunches or a boat day around your sector’s slot.
- Fill up the rental car when you can and carry a little cash in case a card terminal is down.
- Check your travel insurance to see what it covers for disruption, and keep receipts.
Our St Barts packing list covers adapters, chargers and the other small things that matter more when the power is off.
Should You Change Your Travel Dates?
For most visitors, no. EDF expects normal supply to return around mid-November, when the G8 overhaul should be finished. Trips from late November onward are less likely to be affected, although nothing is guaranteed while the plant has so little spare capacity. If your dates are flexible and you are sensitive to heat (for example, traveling with babies or older relatives), moving a trip from early to late November is a reasonable choice. Our St Barts in November guide covers the weather, events and reopenings later in the month.
St Barts Power Outages: Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there power outages in St Barts in October 2026?
St. Barthélemy’s two largest generators, G7 and G8, are both out of service at the island’s EDF power plant. G8 is in a required major overhaul and G7 needs repairs after a fault. The remaining engines cannot meet peak demand of about 23.6 MW, so EDF has been running rotating power cuts since October 20, 2026.
How long will the St Barts power outages last?
EDF expects the rotating power cuts on St. Barthélemy to continue until about mid-November 2026, when the G8 overhaul should be finished. The date depends on repair work, so check for updates before you travel.
How long does each power cut last in St Barts?
Rotating power cuts in St. Barthélemy have typically lasted three to four hours per area, as of late October 2026. EDF moves the cuts from sector to sector across the day and night, and it changes the schedule daily.
Where can I find the St Barts power cut schedule?
EDF publishes a forecast of the next day’s power cuts in St. Barthélemy, and Le Journal de Saint-Barth reposts the schedules on its website (journaldesaintbarth.com). Villa managers and hotel front desks usually know the plan for their area.
Is it still worth visiting St Barts in November 2026?
Yes. The beaches, boat trips and most activities on St. Barthélemy are not affected by the power cuts. Expect occasional blackouts of a few hours at your accommodation until about mid-November, ask whether your villa or hotel has a backup generator, and confirm restaurant hours on the day.
Do St Barts villas have backup generators?
Some villas on St. Barthélemy have backup generators and many do not, and a generator may power only essentials. Ask your host or rental agency before arrival whether the property has one and what it runs.
Planning St Barts Later This Season?
Lock in flights to St. Maarten (SXM) and your connection to the island early for the busy December–April season.
Search Flights to SXM →Sources: Le Journal de Saint-Barth, “EDF crisis: power cuts announced through mid-November” (Oct 22, 2026); EDF statement reported by Le Journal de Saint-Barth (Oct 20, 2026); EDF overnight load-shedding schedule (Oct 21, 2026); Interview with EDF’s regional director (Sept 4, 2026).
*Affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is a developing situation; confirm current conditions with EDF, your host or your hotel before traveling.
Last updated: October 26, 2026
