September 22, 2003
BEC Announces Light Bill Cut
The PLP hadn't even got their feet on the ground, after the election in May 2002, before newly appointed Minister of Works and Utilities, Bradley Roberts, made it clear that there would be some changes in the way BEC was operated.
True to his word, this summer was perhaps the best summer, in a long time, for the nations electricity producer. Most people we've talked to agree that this summer had fewer power outages, due to load shedding, than any previous summer in at least the past five years.
But the icing on the cake to Bahamian consumers is the recently announced rate cut on electricity bills. Almost unheard of in today's economic climate are utility rate reductions. Yet, Bahamian households can expect as much as a 17 per cent reduction in their electricity bills next month, Mr. Roberts announced during his communication to the House of Assembly last week.
And if that isn't enough good news, how's this... BEC will also pay out 3 per cent interest on all security deposits this fiscal year, a move that has been pushed by consumer groups for some time.
Mr. Roberts said that this year BEC is expecting to save a whopping $28.3 million, savings which it is passing on to the customer.
The FNM party welcomed the new rates announcement but was quick to claim that this dividend was made possible only by the stewardship provided to the Corporation during the FNM's two consecutive terms in office.
Minister Roberts countered by blasting the FNM statement as "naive and misleading" saying that, "The reductions had absolutely nothing to do with the Free National Movement."
Truthfully, most consumers don't care who gets the credit, they are just ecstatic to receive a reduction in the rates, particularly following a period of trying economic times, brought about by the drop in tourism, due to the tragedy of September 11, 2001.
Union leaders also welcomed the rate reductions in a big "thank-you" press statement over the weekend.
Posted by admin at September 22, 2003 01:23 PM