The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Energy and Transport Jobeth Coleby-Davis said 62 percent of Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) 94,500 residential customers received electricity bills under $125 in January.

She said the implementation of the Equity Rate Adjustment (ERA) has created a fairer tariff structure, ensuring households no longer subsidize large commercial consumers. Under the ERA, the base rate for the first 0 to 200 kWh has been reduced to zero.

According to BPL’s latest analysis, 9,636 households received electricity bills between $5 and $19.99 in January 2025. Additionally, 41,014 households were billed between $20 and $99.99, while 8,283 received bills ranging from $100 to $124.99.

“This means that approximately 58,933 households, or 62 percent of residential customers, received bills under $125 during the month of January,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said during her mid-year budget contribution in the House of Assembly.

She acknowledged that energy consumption tends to be lower in winter and noted other factors, such as the fuel charge, but said the impact of the ERA cannot be ignored.

“It is also worth mentioning that lower electricity bills also mean less funds paid in VAT — more money in the wallets of Bahamians,” she said. 

BPL’s new rate structure took effect on July 1, 2024. Under the revised plan, residents no longer pay for the first 200 kWh of electricity each month, eliminating the previous charge of 10.95 cents per kWh and saving customers $21.90 per month. Additionally, the fuel charge was reduced by 2.5 cents per kWh for the first 800 kWh.

The ERA encourages energy conservation and protects low-energy users, ensuring those who consume less pay less.