50% cost cut! Residents urged to join solar energy program
Minister of Communications and Works Kye Rymer is encouraging residents to sign up for the Solar Technology Energy Programme (STEP), which promises to reduce electricity bills in half.
Speaking at a contract signing ceremony for 21 new solar customers at Pockwood Pond on Thursday, February 7, Rymer announced that the government will cover 50 percent of the upfront cost of solar installations. He urged more residents to take advantage of the program’s benefits.
“This will slash your electricity bill by up to 50 percent permanently,” Rymer stated, adding, “So we’ll say goodbye to fuel price anxiety.”
The minister also noted that STEP is expected to save the government up to 50 million dollars, funds that can be redirected to other critical areas in the territory.
Increasing reliance on renewable energy
Meanwhile, Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to increasing the territory’s reliance on renewable energy, with a target for thirty percent of the BVI’s energy to be solar-powered by 2030.
Introduced by the Ministry in April 2024, STEP aims to combat high energy costs, which have been driven by external factors such as rising fuel prices and global shipping disruptions. Minister Rymer previously highlighted how events like wars have further exacerbated these costs.
The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) has taken significant steps to lower the per-unit cost of electricity, and STEP plays a key role in this effort. The program enables residential customers to generate their own electricity using solar power through grid-tie systems, which not only reduce reliance on imported fuel but may also provide financial credits to participants.
BVIEC will cover all upfront costs for equipment and installation, eliminating financial barriers for residents. Savings generated from lower energy costs will first go toward recouping setup expenses. Once these costs are recovered, customers will see direct reductions in their electricity bills or receive financial credits.
Interested residents can register for STEP via the BVIEC website, where the initial group of customers has already signed up.
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How about first finishing the solar project in Anagada. What a waste. Can we also get some transparycy and see what the Anagada project is costing the tax payer
And by the way cut the red tape and import duty on solar for people who want to do the right thing
HERE AGAIN TRYING TO CONTROL EVERYTHING IF I WANT USE SOLAR ENERGY WHAT THAT HAVE TO DO WITH YOU BUT HALF THE BILL HOW ABOUT CUT THE BILL OUT ALTOGETHER NONSENSE. EVERYTHING IS SIGN UP FOR THIS AND THAT WHEN WE COULD INDEPENDENTLY LIVE WITH OUT PAYING
so they dont mention the cost, if its the local comapnies that are installing and charging you in the end, then they are ripping people off by more than 300% mark up on the items.
My house is solar but still linked to the grid but not grid tied so we have best of both worlds bill went from $900+ a month to under $100 and thats mostly their charges not current.
System in total cost $16,000 so in under 2 years the system pid for itself unlike the STEP system being offered by BVIEC you will just keep paying bills for free sunshine