Electricity fuel surcharge stifling businesses
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has argued that the fuel charge component on electricity bills has become more burdensome, especially for businesses in the territory.
“One of the challenges, particularly many persons are facing, and one of the concerns persons have expressed to me — the issue of high food costs and the issue of electricity and the fuel surcharge seems to be stifling many families and businesses within this territory,” Penn stated at a press conference yesterday.
The lawmaker suggested that last month’s bill showed the highest fuel surcharge for some time.
Penn said the government has not intervened in the matter and has not proposed any new measures or policies to help curb the fuel surcharge issues faced by consumers.
According to Penn, governments have traditionally borne the added burden created by the fuel surcharge and have eased the fuel cost burden that is now being passed on to consumers through policy measures — both in their electricity bills and at the pump.
“I suggest that we move in that direction, encourage the government to bring some type of relief to our struggling families within the territory,” Penn argued.
Penn also called on the government to bring added relief to struggling families by having a dialogue with key grocers in the territory where they can collectively figure out how to reduce prices on the proverbial “basket of goods”.
In economics, the term ‘basket of goods’ is often used to describe a fixed set of products and services that are used to track and measure changes in prices and inflation over time.
“We are not hearing the conversation from the government’s side,” Penn added. “We continue to advocate privately. We’re going to advocate publicly on behalf of the people. But the government needs to work collaboratively with us.
He continued: “Take some of the ideas. A good idea is a good idea no matter where it comes from; once it improves the lives of the country and improves the lives of the people living in the country and we’re going to continue to do that.”
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Someone has to pay for all of the new vehicles at BVIEC and their GSB and it looks like we are their bank account.
Where are the audits of both?? There is no oversight by Government and there is no mechanism through which the electricity users can complain that has any “teeth” to force explanations.
Get rid of these independant entities or enact legislation that requires monthly accounts published for all to see!
I AM GOIN CRAZY WITH THEY PRICES SOON I WILL GO CRAZY
the BVI government should actually pay for all the electricity they consume.
BVIEC Drive around in all their fancy new vehicles that have renewable energy across them and yet? They making all this money off us common man with these crazy prices. Sickening, the lot of them.
Pure f**king old talk from Marlon who just come back from Africa with Mitch and Fraser doing what? I don’t want to hear a f**king word from none of these id**ts. They are all the f**king same!
Doing business in the BVI in general is difficult. Not only the cost of electricity. All the different requirements, good standing etc. all cost money. Then to get your goods in the country you have to deal with Customs and the Port. You submit your declaration to customs, their system down. While port charging you storage because you haven’t collected your goods. No fault of your own but nonetheless an additional cost to your goods. Then you spend an entire day at the port because some customer officer having a bad day and want to be giving you a hard time and attitude. But you can’t blame him or her because its the same attitude you get when you call headquarters. You simply call for help and some A**hole customs commissioner want to show himself and speak to you like a dog. Many small business are struggling to pay bills and employees. The government both current and opposition are not coming up with proposals or solution to help better things for everyone consumer and business.
Why can’t these jokers explain the reason for the surcharge. Is it that Government haven’t paid their bill in years and we are paying an inefficiency tax? Wow, take about an elephant in the room that no one wants to admit let a lot fix
we have a scapegoats , as the canary on the yellow site always spewing out ( ITS THE UK FAULT or the GOVERNOR or the COMMISSIONER or CINDY or WALWYN and even LORNA ~ depends on the mOOd the wakes up in
Simple. Its Because they havent, or cant, raise the basic unit cost for years. As time goes by prices go up and they have to pay more for the fuel they buy to make the electricity. If they removed the surcharge you would still be paying the same, but unit price would be in dollars rather than cents. Why is it so difficult for people to understand? I agree that it would help if govt settled their bills and turned a few lights off at night.
@ Lodger – So back to my conclusion that it is an inefficiency tax. From your perspective an inability to agree a sensible unit cost. I think that it’s a combination of a lot of things, namely they are unable to capture all of the relevant costs, they may be out spending their available cash base and also provide for the running issues on an unpaid receivable (government unpaid bill) that also indicates over trading. If they were a private business they would be bust.
Let the outsiders pay the cost …
They are the majority Ohhh i forget … “ How dare you tell us how to run our country
is a CORPORATION.
That is the last word in the name.
It is partly owned by the BVI Government. That means WE own it. The citizens collectively own shares. We have a right to hold this company, those we elect to govern and the other major shareholders accountable.
So these outsiders not contribute to the county
Sharlene Dabero OBE
Hon Mather
Hon Walwyn
Hon Smith
Richard Branson
Mr Jaraque
Tony Alphonso
AG : Babba
Principal Fredericks
Doctor Pickering
Mr Peter Moll
And the list can go on – God do not like ugly
Leaders need to set the tone for healing and togetherness not segregation.
The BVIEC is not a completely nationalised company only 50% AFAIK. It it suits the importers of oil to have as much electricity burned as possible. Who are they and their ties to gvt? I remember when they were building the hospital and the electricity was put in and the lights burned for 10 years and I asked an electrician working there why and he said no reason except they were told to keep all the lights on all the time. Someone was making a lot of money. Still are.
A St Kitts dude, had a lil business in VG some years ago, saving people 25% on the electricity cost. Many local businesses wanted his services for free, some even got installations and has not paid him a dime. One mangy sheep sicken the whole flock. We could’ve been saving money all now so!