Premier signals higher water rates under VIEWCO
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has signalled that consumers could face higher water rates when the Water and Sewerage Department transfers to the Virgin Islands Energy and Water Corporation (VIEWCO).
Speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday, August 13, Dr Wheatley said the new corporation would need to charge rates that reflect the cost of supplying water and allow the operation to remain financially viable.
“You think an electricity corporation can afford to subsidise water to that extent? No, they can’t. So they’re going to have to be able to charge water rates to assist the operation to be viable,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He said the amount charged to consumers remained far below the cost of producing water because the government heavily subsidised the service.
“You have to be able to charge the rates which are appropriate to make the model work,” the Premier stated.
Opposition member Myron Walwyn questioned whether the Premier was announcing an impending increase in water rates. “Is that what you’re saying? Is that an announcement through the back door?” Walwyn asked.
In response, Dr Wheatley said that responsible governance required the utility to generate sufficient revenue to meet its operating expenses. “I’m doubling down, actually,” Dr Wheatley stated.
“One thing I like about the VIEWCO is that the VIEWCO, in my view — because it’s a business model — they will increase the customers for water and sewage. And they will have to come up with a business model that works,” he added.
Unmetered connections and unpaid bills
The Premier also pointed to unmetered connections, unpaid bills and non-revenue water as issues affecting revenue collection. He said VIEWCO would have to ensure that customers paid for the water they received while expanding its customer base.
“When you’re selling water, you have to be able to collect enough revenue to be able to operate,” Dr Wheatley stated. “And you have to be able to charge reasonable rates. And you have to make sure that customers pay.”
The legislation creating VIEWCO received Governor Daniel Pruce’s assent in June. It provides for the merger of the Water and Sewerage Department and the BVI Electricity Corporation under one statutory body responsible for electricity, water and sewerage services. The government has said the merger is intended to strengthen service delivery, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.
Dr Wheatley maintained that the new business model would improve the reliability of the territory’s water supply.
“I am fully confident that when water transfers to VIEWCO, you are going to get a better business model,” he stated. “And you’re going to get better results. You’re going to get better reliability. And the corporation will receive more revenue.”
He said the minister would soon bring the legislation into force, allowing the territory to begin seeing the results of the merger.
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Nobody received, can VIEWCO guarantee 24hr water , surely your going to have to have a business that can actually distribute it’s product before it decides unilaterally to increase its charges to all when 50% of it’s clients aren’t receiving a full time supply
As VIEWCO comes into focus, the public deserves a clearer view of the water system. One built on reliability, proper metering, and reduced losses. Fix the supply first, strengthen the foundations, and then we can talk rates. People need a better view of the service before they’re asked to accept a higher view of the bill.
So This Is What The Talk About Water And Electricity Merger Was All About? I Bet It Won’t Affect The Money For Partying And Travelling. Lord Please Let The Time Soon Come To Get These Wicked Thieves Out Of The Way. Please Dear God, Bring Relief To This Satanic Operation.. Please God, Pour Your Wrath Upon This Lawless Place And Show Mercy Upon Your Faithful People. How Long Lord? How Long Must We Endure All The Wickedness In This Lil Territory? Lord, Only You Can Help Us. How Much More Can We Take Lord? How Much More?
Well, like a bad hurricane, it has arrived now. For those of you who think politics and elections are a popularity contest.
This is the result of bad leadership when people don’t know what they are doing or don’t care.
Higher taxes and fees. They have spent money on shows and all sorts of nonsense, and the people just sit in their corner and complain, afraid to speak out and hate anyone who does. Now it’s time for us all to pay the price.
this is such b.s, charging more for something we barely get is robbery, vote them all out
When you are in for more, you shall be out for less, a hard head surely makes a soft, soft behind. You people thought this was going to be as easy or good as it sounded right? You people should have gotten up and protest this merger but you sat back and let it happen. I am so glad I have a cistern and I don’t have to pay a hefty water bill each month for water, if my cistern is going low I can pay for a water truck to deliver my water.
pile it on boss we are resilient
I hope that people take all these things into consideration when they go to the polls. Natalie and his whole cabinet needs to be voted OUT! Sharie, Kai, Wheatley, ALL of them. This is ridiculous. Spend money on all kinds of nonsense then plan to tax and raise prices for things they don’t provide…strupes
Higher water rates for water we done don’t even receive?? Let’s be for real!
What about trying separating the water and electric problem and you would not have this problem.
How did the problem get created in the first place by joining them together??
Whose stupid idea was that?
How much water is lost to leaks thar run 24/7 with no attempt to repair ? Over 50%. Someone has to pay, we do !
IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GET ANY BETTER. Y’ALL THINK YOUR LIGHT AND WATER BILL IS HIGH JUST WAIT. MY NEIGHBOR HAD ME CACKLING WITH LAUGH. SHE SAID SHE IS GOING BACK TO OIL AND KEROSENE LAMPS THAT SHE GREW UP USING AND WATER DRUMS TO CATCH WATER.