of the financial year were just 0.5 percent higher than the same period a year before, the company said this week.

And residential sales between January 1 and March 31 dipped more than two percent as a result of unseasonably mild weather.

The small commercial category recorded an 8.61 percent increase in kilowatt hours used, as the large demand sector grew by 0.84 percent, as a result of intensified usage in Hamilton offices. Usage by large hotels remained flat.

BELCO has also implemented a new computerised Interactive Voice Reporting system that will allow residents to report outages without speaking to an operator. The company said that it would lead to better coordination of the repair effort.

Mr. Madeiros said: "The system will also allow staff to analyse data on outages and use this analysis to limit and ultimately prevent, future outages from occurring.'' The company admitted there had been an unusual number of power outages in the first quarter, due mainly to faults in the generating plant. The causes have been identified and the problems rectified. Two major outages due to faults in the transmission system have also been rectified.

BELCO results Bermuda Gas & Utility Co. Ltd. reported a 5.4 percent increase in sales through February, largely as a result of a 12.5 percent increase in gas prices.

Board changes include chairman of 15 years, Neville Conyers, who retired at the end of February after having sat on the board for 25 years. Deputy chairman Robert Tucker has taken the helm. Miles Outerbridge took over the deputy's post.

James Masters has also resigned after 25 years on the board, leaving Bermuda to pursue other interests. New board members are William J. Midon, chairman of Millennium International Ltd. and BELCO Holdings president and CEO, Garry Madeiros.