‘If I don’t pay my bill, disconnect me’- Dr Neil M. Smith
Dr Smith clarified this during a press conference on August 25, 2026. “The disconnections that we have this month are for monies owed last month; they have nothing to do with this increase in electricity bills.”
BVIEC's disconnection policy is that all bills more than 30 days in arrears are subject to disconnection.
BVIEC is gov’t owned but also a business
Dr Smith reminded that while BVIEC is government-owned, it is still a business.
“You can’t expect to continuously habitually owe a business that’s providing service to you and expect it to survive.”
BVIEC employees are customers too
Dr Smith offered an apology to customers if BVIEC has been in any way unsympathetic in the approach or conversation about delinquency,
“I apologise for that; but what I can’t apologise for is that we have to collect at some point. We work with you.”
He added that BVIEC employees are customers too and pay the same bills without rebates or special treatment.
“I have given my own staff instructions: if I don’t pay my bill, disconnect me. So, we’re not looking for any favourite treatment.”
BVIEC, he said, understands that some people have it more difficult than others and is willing to work with them.
“But what we tend to get a bit put off about is when people are habitually delinquent.”
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18 Responses to “‘If I don’t pay my bill, disconnect me’- Dr Neil M. Smith ”
Stop selling us a story; it is alleged that you and the Financial Comptroller and the Board are clueless. Your department needs a forensic Audit. You all have treated locals like dirt while issuing public apologies to others who don't look like us, when you step out of bounds with them. No wonder the man responsible for accountability is silent on this whole thing.
Majority of the lower class will eventually be unable to pay their bill
If a company doesn't make money it will lack financial resources to keep investing/improving the network and its systems. It is not because it is government owned that should not be profitable.
And if it is not profitable we are the ones paying for its losses anyway...
And smoke all day without complaining. Adults and the young generation. It got young mothers I see partying night till morning yet them kids with other ppl living under parents house. That same money they wasting can help the parent pay bills!!!! Don’t feel for them it’s foolishness. Prices gone up all over the world not just here