The Public Utilities Commission has brought criminal charges against Belize Electricity Limited. That's right criminal charges against your power provider. The charge is of failure to submit a Full Tariff Review Proceeding to the Public Utilities Commission.

Chairman of the PUC John Avery today confirmed that the charges arise because BEL was supposed to submit a full tariff review as the law required them to on January 21st. of 2009. Avery says his Commission showed maximum leniency and wrote BEL several times requesting the FTRP. One year later with still no result, he says the PUC was satisfied that it had exhausted all best efforts and had no choice but to file charges within the maximum leeway time of 12 months.

Yesterday in court, BEL's Manager of Financial reports and records, Jason Rivers appeared for the company, pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned for April 8. The bad news for the PUC is that the offence carries a maximum fine of five thousand dollars which for a company that grossed $185 million last year – is less than a drop in the bucket. In lieu of a fine, the court can also order six months imprisonment.

Avery told us he knows that is unlikely, but he would prefer that penalty. He told us that he believes that no FTRP was submitted because BEL has embarked upon a deliberate strategy to frustrate the PUC's rate setting process. He says that he believes that because the cost of oil was more expensive when rates were set in 2008 – any subsequent review would result in lower rates. He adds that by his commission's calculation, BEL currently owes consumers $35 million because of lower oil prices – money which he claims the company is using as interest free financing.

Strong charges, but despite numerous attempts we were unable to reach any BEL spokesperson for comment.