BEST & Greenrock To Hold Solar Charge Protest
[Updated] The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce [BEST] and Greenrock are “calling on all Bermudians to join a peaceful public demonstration on Tuesday, July 28, at 12:00 noon to protest the Regulatory Authority’s approval of increased monthly facilities charges that triple the cost for residential solar customers.”
A spokesperson said, “The event will begin at City Hall, Hamilton, and proceed to the Regulatory Authority offices, where participants will call for an immediate review of a policy that threatens Bermuda’s renewable energy future.
“The new BELCO facilities charge places a significant additional monthly cost on homeowners who invested in rooftop solar after years of being encouraged by successive governments to reduce Bermuda’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. The organisations say the policy unfairly penalises families who made substantial personal investments in clean energy while undermining Bermuda’s stated commitment to sustainability.”
“The Regulatory Authority’s decision sends exactly the wrong message,” said representatives of BEST and Greenrock. “Instead of rewarding Bermudians who invested in renewable energy, it makes solar a far less attractive investment. Some homeowners are now discovering that their monthly electricity bills could actually be higher than they were before they installed solar panels.”
The spokesperson said, “BEST and Greenrock argue that the new charge applies a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach that fails to distinguish between customers who make very different levels of use of the electricity grid. Homeowners with small rooftop systems that export very little electricity are charged the same facilities fee as those with much larger systems.”
“If charges are intended to reflect the cost of using the grid, then they should reflect actual grid usage,” the organisations said. “Customers who have invested in reducing demand on the grid should not be penalised simply because they chose to install solar.”
The spokesperson said, “The organisations also warn that the policy will have consequences far beyond individual electricity bills. By reducing the financial benefits of rooftop solar, Bermuda risks discouraging future investment in renewable energy, slowing progress toward national climate goals, and increasing long-term reliance on imported fossil fuels.”
“This policy risks locking Bermuda into decades of continued dependence on imported oil and exposing residents to the price volatility of international fuel markets. Every rooftop solar installation reduces fuel imports, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, improves air quality, and strengthens Bermuda’s energy security.”
The spokesperson said, “BEST and Greenrock also highlighted the economic impact of the decision. Investment in rooftop solar supports local electricians, engineers, installers, and small businesses. Discouraging new solar installations threatens jobs, reduces local investment, and shifts more of Bermuda’s energy spending overseas through imported fuel purchases.
“The organisations are calling on the Regulatory Authority to review the facilities charge and adopt a more equitable approach that reflects actual grid usage while recognising the environmental and economic benefits that distributed renewable energy provides to Bermuda.
“Members of the public, environmental organisations, businesses, solar customers, and anyone concerned about Bermuda’s energy future are encouraged to attend.
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
- Time: 12:00 p.m.
- Assembly Point: City Hall, Hamilton
- Destination: Regulatory Authority Offices
“BEST and Greenrock believe Bermuda’s energy policies should encourage innovation, reward responsible investment, and accelerate the transition to clean, affordable energy—not discourage the very people who answered the call to help build a more sustainable Bermuda.”
Updated: A few photos from the protests have been added below
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Kind of ironic when the Director of Greenrock owns no solar panels.
Great stuff!
While we’re at it, we might as well protest our government given the recent revelations (or lackthereof) regarding the ransomware hack and payout.
“The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce [BEST] and Greenrock are “calling on all Bermudians to join a peaceful public demonstration”
Unlike March 2016, when people prevented Parliament from sitting and even discussing immigration reform.
“The new BELCO facilities charge places a significant additional monthly cost on homeowners who invested in rooftop solar after years of being encouraged by successive governments to reduce Bermuda’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. The organisations say the policy unfairly penalises families who made substantial personal investments in clean energy while undermining Bermuda’s stated commitment to sustainability.”
The “homeowners who invested in rooftop solar” took a risk, as all investors do. The “successive” PLP Governments did not guarantee that investing in solar power would return profits. And not all solar installations are the same.
BEST and Greenrock demonstrate a shocking lack of knowledge of both solar technology and basic economics.
As these protestors are protesting against a PLP appointed authority, they cannot expected to be rewarded for criminal acts as were the protesters in March 2016.
OUCH. As always, excellent points.
How can one with a few panels revert to BELCO only? That would save them over $1000.00/year.
BELCO, with the approval of the Regulators, already rob the solar connected customers by paying them a minimum for the power they generate while selling it to their neighbor with an added fuel surcharge.
so BELCO and RA are penalising people for 1) securing a responsbile sustainable alternate engery option for the betterment of our planet 2) getting off a grid that is already overloaded and 3) returning free power back to BELCO – makes total sense to me…..(eye roll) lets be honest here, BELCO are trying to make up the revenue loss they are experiencing due to solar panels on residences and businesses….look up at the hanging mess of overhead wires and the mess at the top of our power poles…cables running randomly everywhere-power outages for days and days after a hurricane or storm. It’s not sustainable! We should not be penalised for getting off the grid. BELCO nor RA have any interest in sustainability…do you want to be relying on them for your future source of energy?