Relief coming for BVIEC’s residential customers — Premier
Some customers of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) are expected to get some sort of reprieve from exorbitant bills they’ve been receiving from the state-owned power company.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley stated at a recent press conference that the government will be going to the House of Assembly this week to create a relief package through what is known as a Schedule of Additional Provisions (SAP).
However, Dr Wheatley noted that this relief measure was targeted at residential customers in particular.
“Right now we are finalising a proposal for relief through the BVI Electricity Corporation … [This is] a form of relief that persons will be able to see on their electricity bill,” the Premier said.
Residents have been calling for months for a reprieve on their electricity bill as rising global oil and food prices have continued to affect the territory in numerous ways.
One legislator recently argued that even though the government has reduced levies on some imports, some of those savings are not being passed on to the consumers as a result of the other challenges that are being faced.
Opposition Leader Julian Fraser had months ago called for the government to target some of the relief monies it was offering towards the BVIEC’s ‘fuel surcharge’ contained in its electricity bills.
“In the months that we know the electricity consumption goes up, [I’m proposing that] you have a targeted approach to say ‘look, we are going to address the issue of fuel surcharge, cap the amount that persons are going to pay on their electricity bill for a certain period’, – you have maximum benefit. The entire public will benefit from something like that,” the Opposition leader explained.
In the meantime, Premier Wheatley further expressed that the United Kingdom was in favour of the government’s approach being taken to provide economic relief to residents.
Dr Wheatley said he discussed the issue with the UK’s Overseas Territories Minister Amanda Milling when he visited Birmingham recently and she later expressed by letter that the UK was in support of the measures.
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Yep this makes sense! The businesses that employ the same residents get no relief but should somehow deal with triple electric bills, keep people hired and keep prices low. Businesses will be forced to increase prices on goods/services offered to the same residents so will it really be relief? A holistic approach is what’s needed not bandaid on a gaping wound with blood gushing out.
Why am I paying so much. I have just 2 lights working and 2 fans a fridge, a laptop and cell phone that’s all I used. And the bill is over $150.
Bvi electricity dubble dipping. They charge 4 electricity and still charge for the fuel. Why?
They sell us electricity and still make us buy fuel.
Just got my first bill and it was $900!! I don’t use ac,I do laundry once a week and I am extremely conservative! It’s too much ! Then there’s the security deposit that was $1600! How the hell are people supposed to survive and get ahead when these bills are severely expensive and I cannot understand where I’m consuming so much energy. Please something needs to be done! The fuel surcharge is not fair. It’s not fair that bvi electric pass those high rates onto its customers. Global oil prices have been dropping for months, yet here in the bvi it doesn’t reflect that at all. Help!!
I totally agree !!! Why are paying two bills essentially!
I will gladly switch my $600.00 bill with you
These politicians suck. When ? When is this relief actually going to take effect??
The biggest energy user in a home is the dryer…. do the old=fashioned thing & dry your clothes on a line!
?
is a luxury NOT a necessity like many believe. It’s easy to live in a sunny windy place and make your own DC and AC electric power. Why buy electricity from an out of date fossil fuel AC public utility when you can make your own electric power.
So why even have a dryer if you can’t use it ? Also where I live my landlord put in the lease that clothes lines cannot be erected as it’s an eye sore.
you’re not getting charged twice – the ‘base’ cost (ie non surcharge) hasn’t changed for years, the surcharge is supposed to be used to reflect the additional cost they incur (given increased oil prices) to create the electricity.
how to calculate fuel surcharge? does anyone know the formula for it?
The BVIEC pick up my trucks that have renewable energy slapped on the side, can anyone please explain what is renewable about BVIEC’s operations?
To me this is like you go in write way and buy a bag of chicken; It already priced so that they making a profit on the sale. Then you get to the cashier and they tell you that you have to pay a fee for the gas that the truck use to bring the chicken from the port to their store and the fee is basically the same price as the bag of chicken itself… make it make sense!
There are many ways to reduce your bill. First is choose a rental with good breezes, cistern water and a clothesline. Look for one that doesn’t come with appliances: buy your own energy efficient fridge, washer, stove, etc. A landlord has no incentive to buy efficient appliances if you’re paying the bill. Don’t rent a place that is only habitable with A/C; choose one that can be kept cool with ceiling fans. And of course make sure no one else is supplied by your meter!
December month
suppose the next time to go pay your phone/ internet bill it have a electricity variation fee on it that’s more than your actual bill.
Good thing. Just make the process fast, simple and fair…Thank you!
Some of us want to have all the amenities of the rich and famous, then complain about the electrical bill. We live in an environment where some of these amenities are not necessary 365 days of the year. Turn off your a/c and open your windows more. Buy energy efficient appliances. If we want to have these things like need air to breath,invest in some solar panels to defray cost. STOP COMPLAINING and blaming everyone but yourselves. I said what I said and meant every word.
I’m pretty sure most people are being very cautious with the amount of power they are using with the cost of electricity being insanely high. It has nothing to do with living like the “rich and famous” , but if I want to turn the ac on for a few hours at night I should be able to do that without feeling like my next bill is going to go through the roof.
You think people have the funds to install solar panels? No probably not.
It’s straight up thievery what this government does to its people.
Other forms of renewable energy should absolutely be implemented and funds should be allocated to aid the population move forward in an environmentally friendly way.
Will you also swap his usage? If so, no problem.
What is the multiplier of 14 on the bill in the picture?
Why would anyone vote down not using a dryer? It’s such a logical way to save. Also switch off the water heater and just put it on manually when you need a shower.
The place is abundant in sunlight, why are we so heavily dependant on fossil fuel?
Will the use of sunlight not cut out the nonsense of rising fuel cost, if ever that is so?
You choose, but the bill is yours. Our bill is $15/month. We have no A/C, no dryer, no dishwasher, no TV, gravity feed water (no pressure tank). Call it old school, call it primitive. Your choice.
Ya that’s pretty ghetto , good for you for living like that. Lol