residential customers by the end of the week, spokeswoman Ms Linda Smith said.

Some 18,000 residences were left without power from the early hours of yesterday after Hurricane Felix side swept the Island.

But Belco was able to restore power to all but about 2,000 by press time last night, said Ms Smith.

All residents were expected to have power in the next 48 to 72 hours, she said.

When Hurricane Emily hit the Island eight years ago, some were without electricity for up to six weeks.

Yesterday, Ms Smith said: "We spent the morning restoring the main lines. The main system is in pretty good shape.'' Inclement weather hindered some 18 Belco crews yesterday morning, she said, but workers made good progress in the afternoon.

Ms Smith said Somerset received the most damage to the main line system.

Somerset was more exposed to the storm which came closest to the west end of the Island, and several poles came down in that parish.

At 5 a.m. yesterday 46 main lines were out, said Ms Smith. At press time last night all but four had been restored.

Technical co-ordinators were sent out to survey the secondary lines, Ms Smith added. Once the main lines were restored she expected Belco crews to begin work on secondary lines.