The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – Although the Coalition of Concerned Citizens has called for the immediate reversal of the three cents rate increase imposed by the Grand Bahama Power Company in 2011, officials at the Power Company said the charge has been removed since July 2012.

Pastor Eddie Victor, Convener for CCC, and members of the organisation, held a press conference yesterday in front of the closed Landau Beach Resort.

He indicated that the high power rate has contributed to the closure of the once “historical vacation site” and resort property, where some 100 persons were put out of work.

Pastor Victor claims that the high electricity rates are creating disadvantaged families and crippling the operation of many businesses on the island.

“Grand Bahama is under bondage to high electricity rates. It is time for citizens and businesses on this island to be set free,” he said.

According to Pastor Victor, said that a decrease of three cents on the power bill for an average household would result in savings averaging $24 per month or $288 per year. It would be much greater, he said, for consumers and businesses that use larger amounts of energy.

He stated that in April 2011, The Grand Bahama Port Authority, the regulators for Freeport, granted approval for a three cents rate increase by the Power Company.

“The purpose for the increase, according to the Power Company, was for the renting of 54 MW generator units in order to improve reliability and to ensure that the company was equipped to meet the summer load.

“It is our understanding that these units were needed until the opening of EMERA’s new $80M 52 mega watt power plant on West Sunrise Highway. The new power plant opened and dedicated on September 17, 2012.”

“The Coalition of Concerned Citizens is calling on the Grand Bahama Power Company and the Regulator to immediately reverse the three cents increase that was granted in 2011.”

Rev Glenroy Bethel stressed that many families in Grand Bahama are being affected by the high cost of electricity.

“It has been recorded that over 10,000 persons in our community are without light. We believe it is unacceptable; everywhere we go we find that people are in darkness,” he claims.

“Our churches are reporting that a lot of their parishioners are without power. We believe this has to change.”

In addition to the high power rate, Rev Bethel also claimed that there has also been a significant increase in power deposits.

He claims that the deposit for persons renting apartment has skyrocketed from $ 500 to $800, and deposit for homeowners has increased from $1,000 to $1,500.

“We can not survive as a people here in our own community at this rate it is going right now. We call on (the government) to step in,” he said.

Pastor Victor said the organisation will continue with its campaign to lower the cost of electricity on Grand Bahama.

He stated that they will continue with their petition drive, and will seek to meet with officials at the GBPA and with the Minister for Grand Bahama.

Philcher Grant-Farquharson, corporate communications officer at the Grand Bahama Power Company said the company takes seriously the ‘misrepresentation’ of information that has been generated in the media.

“As it relates to the allegations that there remains a 3 cent charge in our rates for rental generation, we advise that is not correct. Those charges were removed in July 2012 when we finalised our new regulatory framework agreement.”

She added: “The claim that there are 10,000 customers without power is completely inaccurate. According to our latest information, there are approximately 500 customers who have had service disconnected for non-payment, which represents about 2% of our customer base.”

Mrs Farquharson said there has been no change in the company’s deposit policy.

“It remains as it always has, which is two months average consumption,” she said.