On Friday's news, we told you about the Barrow ADMINISTRATION's dispute with the Public Utilities Commission over its decision to approve a 6.9% increase in your light bill, starting next month. Government is pushing for the PUC to hold off on the increase, and consider it in 6 months.
All this is after the PUC approved increased electricity rates from 39.2 cents per kilowatt hour to 42 cents per kilowatt hour - effective tomorrow. But, there is a ten day window to file an objection to the decision in writing - and it seems Government will do so through no less than the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities.
But, the ruling party has also "sicced" its soldiers after the PUC - whose members are all appointed by the Prime Minister.
The first letter is from UDP Chairman, Alberto August to the PUC Chairman, John Avery.
His letter, dated December 28th, says, quote, "I write...in my capacity as Chairman of the UDP, on behalf of (its) many thousands of…supporters registering…grave objection to the initial decision… to grant a rate increase to Belize Electricity Limited…This correspondence serves to request for the Commission to urgently reconsider its initial decision with a view of leaving electricity rates unchanged…The matter can subsequently be revisited for the next Tariff Review Period when hopefully, with decreasing fuel prices, there will be no need for higher electricity rates and customers could instead be treated to a reduction in rates." End quote.
The other letter that we've seen comes from Alfonso Noble, the Editor of the UDP's Guardian Newspaper. He also writes to Avery - who is a former editor of the Guardian - and goes into details about his household's monthly electricity bill, and how this proposed increase would negatively affect him.
He then formally objects by saying, quote, "(the) rate increase… is representative of a 7.69% increase in my monthly bill. More than directly affecting the price of my outright consumption, the variance in charge will also affect the amount which I will have to pay in GST charges... I therefore request that you hold off on your decision to grant BEL a rate increase until the next Annual Review Proceeding takes place… It should not be lost on you that your decision, will not only affect me, but thousands of other consumers who fall into the bracket of consumption in which I fall under. End quote.
So, while the government is trying to stop, or at least delay this rate increase, the Opposition PUP aren't the least bit impressed. In fact, they think it is all one big sham.
In a press release, sent today, the PUP says, quote, "The... (PUP) rejects with extreme prejudice, the duplicitous and ludicrous game being played by… (GOB), BEL and the PUC. On one hand, BEL asked for a raise in electricity rates, its second in six months. On the other hand, the PUC decided that BEL asked for too little and so they 'gifted' them with more than what they asked for. If that wasn't ridiculous enough, GOB then stepped in and asked the PUC to please revisit its 'gift' to BEL. Then we hear that GOB further asked the PUC to hold back any increase at all for the next six months. The simple fact of the matter, disregarding the smoke and mirrors trick, is that the Prime Minister, who is the head of Government, controls both BEL and the PUC. The Boards of both these entities serve at the whim of the Prime Minister." End quote.
Their statement ends saying, quote, "The reason for this bizarre game of misdirection is simply that Mr. Barrow is fully aware that Belizeans are fed up of the increased cost of living. In just the past year he added GST to electricity bills of $100 and above. Then there was an increase in electricity rates. And now another increase! The Prime Minister is attempting, in very lame fashion, to pass GOB off as the hero in this charade, with the PUC being the villain." End quote.
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