Minister Responds To Comments On Energy
Minister of Home Affairs Alexa Lightbourne said she noted the comments from the Shadow Minister regarding the National Electricity Sector Policy 2026 and issued a statement in response.
The Minister said, “The consultative draft of the National Electricity Sector Policy 2026 was published on the Government’s consultation site Citizen’s Forum [forum.gov.bm] on April 20, with the feedback period extended to May 21, to allow stakeholders additional time to share their views. The Department of Energy is reviewing every submission received, and the final Policy will be presented to Cabinet before publication.
“While that work continues, the Government’s fuel duty relief is delivering immediate savings by eliminating the fuel duty on electricity generation, a tax that was doubled by the previous administration. This measure is projected to reduce household electricity bills by approximately $375 per year.”
“The Government also recognises the legitimate concerns of Bermudians who invested in solar energy in good faith. Those investments have reduced Bermuda’s reliance on imported fuel and should be reflected in a fair and sustainable regulatory framework.
“While tariff decisions remain the responsibility of the independent Regulatory Authority [RA], the Government has made clear that the benefits of the energy transition must be shared fairly, including by customers who generate their own power.
“That’s why the comprehensive review of Bermuda’s transmission and distribution model directed in May 2025, examines exactly these pricing structures, and the impact of the new fee structure on customers who self-generate belongs squarely within that work. This must includes review of the feed-in tariff rate by the RA in support of the governments policy intentions and the public interest.”
Minister Lightbourne concluded, “The National Electricity Sector Policy 2026 replaces aspirational renewable energy targets with a practical, evidence-based Integrated Resource Planning process focused on delivering reliable, least-cost energy solutions. At the same time, distributed solar energy remain among Bermuda’s most effective tools for reducing fuel imports, which has been previously stated in public reports and is aligned to the governments policy.”
“The Government also recognises the legitimate concerns of Bermudians who invested in solar energy in good faith”.
Dear Minister, the PLP Government did not guarantee or actively encourage that investment. At least, not so far as is known to the public.
What you should have said is the PLP Government also recognises the legitimate concerns of Bermudians who invested in solar energy “at their own risk”.
Correct me, as I know you know the inner workings of our Government better than most people, but was there not a monetary incentive paid by the Government to those who purchased and installed solar panels?
Found it. Dept. of Planning webpage
Solar photovoltaic rebate initiative (SPRI) November 29, 2018
Solar photovoltaic panels convert light energy from the sun into electrical energy which you can use in your home. A device called an inverter conditions the electricity from the solar panels so it is compatible with your appliances and can be exported back into the electrical grid when the panels produce more electricity than you need. The inverter also ensures the system operates safely by automatically disconnecting the system from the electrical grid when necessary.
Solar photovoltaic panels contain no moving parts to wear out, break or replace and therefore minimal maintenance is required to keep the system running. The systems are robust, modular and can be installed almost anywhere, they produce no noise, harmful emissions or polluting gases during normal operation.
Although solar energy is free, solar photovoltaic systems are not, so the Department of Energy has created the Solar Photovoltaic Rebate Initiative (SPRI) to help offset some of the associated costs. The funds are limited, so participation in the SPRI will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Who is Eligible for the Rebate?
The SPRI is available to residents of Bermuda who wish to install a solar photovoltaic generation system on a residential dwelling which they own provided that the ARV is $120,000 or less. This rebate was launched on October 11th, 2018. Installations in receipt of a certificate of occupancy prior to this date will not be considered for a rebate.
SPRI Allowance
The SPRI applicant will be awarded on a tiered basis:
ARV value Solar PV rebate
0 > $30,000
$2/Watt, up to $8K
$30,001 > $65,000
$1/Watt, up to $4K
$65,001 > $120,000
$1/Watt, up to $2K
Serious question.
How many Ministers does it take to screw in an LED lightbulb?
Answer: What number did the consultants determine?
How true!