Roban: BELCO “Rate Hike Is A Severe Blow”
“Outrageous and disheartening news,” said the Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban today following the Regulatory Authority [RA] announcement [PDF] that “customers will be slapped with an average 8% increase to their electricity bill following BELCO’s request for a 28% increase in electricity rates.”
The Minister said “This rate hike is a severe blow to hardworking Bermudians struggling under the crushing weight of high costs. The global events driving up the cost of electricity are undeniable. Still, the RA’s decision to increase rates, following the request from BELCO will hit families hard, forcing many to make even more sacrifices to keep the lights on.
“Despite BELCO not receiving the total 28% increase they brazenly requested, the RA’s approval of a $35 million modification to BELCO’s revenue allowance, which is lower than the $59 million sought, still imposes an additional burden on the average consumer.
“The insistence on maintaining Bermuda’s long-term sustainability and reliability at the expense of its citizens’ immediate wellbeing is a bitter pill to swallow. The RA’s actions, under the guise of future investments, show a blatant disregard for the current suffering of many in our community.
“Earlier today Cabinet discussed this latest increase, and the Government will take action to reduce the impact of this BELCO increase on Bermudians.”
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Govt a joke. The RA was set up to protect the consumer. The PLP are just playing bad cop good cop for votes. They are playing you people of Bermuda. Are you going to be fooled when the reduction happens?
What’s he talking about? According to his government we’ve miraculously avoided high inflation for the last few years.
That all sounds vacuous when the Minister has the power to give directions to the RA and the power to enforce those directions.
I wonder if that is the same Minister who approved the sale of Belco from a Bermudian company (Ascendant) to a Canadian company (Algonquin Power & Utilities Corporation)?
Walter . How could you be sympathic to our people plight when B.E.L.Co increases its rates after that business slipped through our fingers to foreign owner ship, the list is growing every day every body want a piece of the pie
Was the RA was out to lunch?
‘There were ten green bottles sitting on the wall’ .
When are you and your fellow parliamentarians have not done anything to ease the tax burden during covid 19
and the pain of inflation as I presume the sugar tax is live and well along with land tax and import duty on food and the high cost medical supplies and services offers no relief.
They tell us to turn the TV off that is a kick back in time.
We cannot go out at night because it is not safe.
The simplicity of it all is that the peoples income is reduced by our currency devaluation due to inflation and no body on the hill will give a inch .
The definition of tax is a demand for money so what do you do when the money runs out ?
I wonder when the Fairmont in Southampton will see the wrecking ball , its just a matter of time or are the going to see them implode the place.
There is the loss of many potential jobs as Hotel living is no longer attractive here any more.
Can you tell us why so many people have left this island while the remaining few do not have the money to keep the island running as before during the glory days .no body save any money for the rain days
May I ask whose side are you guys on any way ?
Both this government and Belco need to go for the good of this island
“Both this government and Belco need to go for the good of this island”
Ok, but with Belco gone how will people obtain electricity? Or do you propose we revert to pre-World War 1 technology?
Joe Bloggs and all the rest of you.
As a very young boy i have to say that we had it very very good .
First of all living in Sandys parish we did no have B.E.L.Co
We had a kerosene lamp sitting on the kitchen table.
Mother cooked on a two burner kerosene stove.
the family bath was portable.
There was an out side toiled out side.
Mother also played the hand pump bellows pipe organ at st Marry’s church i was born in a house owned by Reverend Ritter.
I am not sure when father bought a piano for my mother
mother made all of out clothes
our family doctor was Dr Can
Dad cut the grass with a pair of clippers he also had a 30 ft X40 ft vegatable garden
We did no start having chickens till we moved to Boaz island.
We had food and shoe rationing many of us went baster foot World War 11 wasin full swing
Mother and Father both had push bikes with baby seats for me and my brother
We used to travel by train in those days the thing was red the driver had pass key so there were no collisions.
Mr Telford was an electrical apprentice to my father at the Dockyard mother was the pay mistress.
By the way the Dockyard had it own power systen and two schools, I went of both of them ,the senior one had a cane which was hanging on the wall, it sure did hurt after you were told to touch your toes.
So to day when B.E.L.Co turn to power off to you house I do not want to hear so much as a peep from any of you.
Let me share this one with you all about this inflation which could cause hard ship, which i am sure it has started already. so you had better lear to ho to cook rice you will see power cuts in different parts of the island
A poor mans steak is a slice of bread soaked in gravy.
The store keeper of the food stores will be the first to go under guaranteed
The guy you voted for does ot know all the answers either .
By the way you do not need a 1,000 kw generator a small one will do.
before I forget you will need a bucket an rope to dip water from the house fresh water tank.
i am now living in your world now where money may become worthless .
We had hand pumps and outhouses in Devonshire too. But I am a generation younger than you.
How old are you?
125 years?
I suppose you had to walk 5 miles to school as well. Uphill both ways.
“I suppose you had to walk 5 miles to school as well. Uphill both ways.”
I have told my children as that!
Don’t let these politicians play you for fools. They can effect change and change things with the RA
Bermuda is in a big mess. Time for snap election
It appears that the party system for Bermuda has not been a very good idea because that devides the system and further divides nation where no body goes home happy that in its self is not good and not very productive and with far too many people fishing in the same pond.
We only have 65 ,000 Bermudians to pick from .
That is the same as a small town.
We have be proud of our representatives.
In reality let us face up to it ,we Bermudians have no alternative but to work together that at least will eliminate the blame game when things don’t always work out.
We have to move forward and plan our future or become another Easter island.
Welcome to the” national liberal conference with a selection of 5 male and 5 female of multi racial persons and no 90 day wonders on both sides with people from ALL walks of life this being the only way to solve the nations discontent and create workable legislation.
We have to be seen to be moving forward and be the envy of the world and say good by to the old ways, gone are the ways of an unproductive presumptive dictatorship of majority rule in favour of 70 % approval vote for all legislation.
Just based of race and being stuck in a rut for 4 years at a time, we can not afford the luxury of that .
The animosity between people must end or we will be doomed.
Believe it or not there is no time left.
The world is about to change is currency and we need to keep our offshore business.
we have to look after what is left of our gold !
B.E.L.Co needs to offer its stock to our people here whom it serves. A monopoly has go .
i pay my B.E.L.Co bill a piece business bill also simply because thet up their price again with an excuse .
What are Argus and B F & M up to ?
However, with legislator term limit this will allow new blood into the process.
Gone are the day of electing a person while we sit back an wait for a miracle .
That process is far from being progressive and we all know that a party system creats amamosity , and we also know that they and we pay taxes .
This is where the tail ways the dog .
So ! if we have to start over then so be it.
One big problem I have here is how do we manage the money ?
Who writes the check which should be subject to at least maximum limits and a form of authorization.
The national debt is our debt that is you am i and not the responsibility of the party in power being stuck with it.
Build now or pay more later , did in fact save us a bundle.
EG The cost to build a home here to day is through the roof .
The Airport and Hospital , we just have face reality and to pay for them and a few others like Cross island .
As a result of the Hon Mr .W. Robain’s notification and have read the public’s barage of comments from the keepers of the key, regarding ,the increase cost of electricity, which we can only refer to as the thin end of the wedge .
Unfortunately we find our selves back to square one with no posative workable solution at this time to resolve the matter .
To be fair ,do we always need miracles to solve this national problem ?
Usually, resolutions to solve problems do not happen over night, on the other hand we cannot just role over and play dead .
What apparently is affected us, this and other issues begs to asks the question are other countries in the same boat as the Ministry of Home Affairs the R.A. is ?
May I quote Mr. Roban ” Severe Blow ” . does that mean the problem is seen to be, being beyond realistic, did we not see enormity of this coming? The public no doubt realizes and understands that 1% inflation can be usually absorbed over a period of time.
We hope this not ask for a dollar to accept 50 cents .
Could this happen with other comodies ? That’s a dumb question ! as this inflation has already struck the soul of our Nation in many other areas as we find our selves being held to ransom and subject to ,and call it like it is
‘ economic war fare’.
Mr. W. Roban we wait urgently for your solution to the matter .