Gov’t subsidy does not cover December electricity consumption- BVIEC GM clarifies
And with the Unity Government announcing 100 percent subsidy on the fuel surcharge for residential customers of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) for December, some persons may misinterpret that to mean they can go ahead and put up a lot of lights this Christmas.
While General Manager of BVIEC Mr Leroy A.E. Abraham is not discouraging anyone from decorating their homes with lots of Christmas lights, he is reminding them to expect a “huge” bill in December.
Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), in a statement on September 12, 2022, said Government will be subsidising 50% of the fuel oil surcharge on residential electricity bills for the months of October and November 2022, and for the month of December 2022, the subsidy will be 100% of the fuel oil surcharge for residential electricity bills.
December consumption ‘not subsidised’- Abraham
Mr Abraham, speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, explained that the electricity bill customers will receive in December, which will get 100 percent of the fuel surcharge subsidised, is based on the November consumption.
“A lot of persons don’t realise that electricity is one of the last industries that operate in a post-paid market, so the credit that went on for October was based on your September consumption and then your October consumption will be the 50 percent credit in November and then your November consumption will be the 100 percent credit for December.
“So if people are going to put up a ton of Christmas lights in December they will get a huge bill in January, which is not subsidised,” Mr Abraham stated.
The General Manager said he wanted to make that “abundantly clear” because, unfortunately, “some people think it is the same month that you get the bill is when you use electricity but the meter has to be read…”
‘BVIEC continues to preach energy conservation’
Mr Abraham said, recognising the high cost of fuel globally, BVIEC continues to preach and promote energy conservation.
“That’s the low-hanging fruit in terms of reduction to your energy bill. The energy bill is totally associated with consumption, so if you can reduce your consumption then that will actually reduce your electricity bill, particularly at a time when fuel prices are escalating.”
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19 Responses to “Gov’t subsidy does not cover December electricity consumption- BVIEC GM clarifies”
October bill is generally September consumption and the like.
You were not tricked. You got two months of reduced bills (ours was $12). This month is the third. They delivered as promised.
Mr. Abraham should have noted that LED Christmas lights will greatly reduce your bill over the old screw-in bulb type. One of our neighbors hung a lot of those lights and was shocked to get a $1,000 bill!
People this is very confusing.......
Fix it from now GM.
The Honerable may have sought clarity on the billing system and possibly did not clearly understood how it works, or possibly he did not take the time to seek clarity. Any which way, I am sure his intentions must have been at a good place for him to make such a gesture. Did he have to? No! Is he the one in our homes refusing to let conservation be our best friend? We need to stop it man. Nothing anyone does will ever be good enough for some of us.
Had the Honerable understood clearly he probably would have said the months of November, December and January to allow for the subsidy to reflect for the festive months, but such is now not the case. People, it behooves us then to be wise as we celebrate Christmas. Why cant we just look at it that way?
Everything is negativity and trickery for us but then again such is the way of man! This is the best of us! Now go ahead and pay your damn December bill in "full" because is you burn your electricity not the Honerable and not the Unity Government.
Some of us will not escape prison because we are too licky licky want freeness and wouldn't mind if it were all year round.
Applaud the initiative, take what is offered and brace for return of normalcy. Mi tiad a unuh. Kmdt.
It is not right.
Let make payment in November for October, December for November and in January for December.
In that way it will comply with what Hon. Rymer request.