OBA’s Dwayne Robinson On Energy Policy
“Bermuda needs a national direction when it comes to our energy policy,” OBA MP Dwayne Robinson said.
Mr Robinson — the Shadow Home Affairs Minister — said, “After a two-week extension, the consultation on the draft National Electricity Sector Policy [NESP] ended on May 21, 2026. The draft NESP 2026 was said to be ‘nearly final’ in a column written by the Minister of Home Affairs. When will this plan be finalised?
“The recent increase of the Fuel Adjustment Rates by $2.17 shows that though Government can dull the impact with its fuel duty relief, which is supported by the One Bermuda Alliance, it cannot truly protect the consumers from increased costs.
“More must be done on a structural level to ensure affordability and sustainability of our energy sector going forward. We welcome the Minister’s pivot from her predecessor’s steep renewable targets to a more reasonable transitional timeline.
“However, with the recent fee structure implemented by Belco to provide greater transparency of its billing has caused backlash from Bermudians who have invested in solar energy.
“Though Belco has gone through great lengths to explain the change and has a thorough explanation on their website, many have reached out to my colleagues and I, in outrage.
“They feel that they were led to invest in solar energy by the Government’s strong push toward renewable energy and given a raw deal by this new facility charge change.
“Some have said it will increase their bill to amounts higher than before they installed their solar panels.
“How will this impact the Government’s renewable energy targets? We need to ensure that efforts to move towards renewable energy are supported and not discouraged.
“Just like my comments during the debate on the Electricity Amendment Act 2026, as legislators, we must be aware of unintended consequences.
“A ministerial directive from May 2, 2025 put this fee restructure into motion and we are seeing the unintended consequences of good intentions.
“The escalating cost of electricity in Bermuda remains a top concern on the doorstep. During a cost-of-living crisis Bermudians cannot afford any additional burdens.
“We are glad the Government has worked on the Draft NESP 2026, with consultation from the public, now we need to see the final version.
“The One Bermuda Alliance believes a national plan will help give direction to Bermuda’s energy sector and will be a great step in providing clarity to Bermudians on our island’s energy future.”
Let’s be clear, not one person in Government from Mr. Big on down, can, in their own words, correctly define “climate change.” I have yet to speak to such a person or read a blog post demonstrating basic subject matter expertise. And that includes our environmental spokespersons.
All energy is “renewable.” It just matters on how you spin your position. But our Government just loves feel good buzz words.
“Climate change” is at the core of the Energy Policy. So far, the only people who have truly benefited from the Government’s “green” policies are Ministers with their FREE electric cars and those who took up the LED bulb program. I submitted the LED bulb program concept years ago to Government. The RA spent millions on consultants for a proposed offshore wind farm where apparently, not even one Notice of Intent was submitted by a vendor – I keep asking and the RA refuses to disclose such information. It would be embarrassing to admit failure so crickets galore.
Last year, governments discovered that Chinese made inverters used for solar panels and other devices, contained a secret communication ability that could disrupt or even shut down an electrical grid. Yes, let’s bring in MORE Chinese made solar panels and MORE Chinese inverters. Why has Government not banned such things? (hint: think about those Chinese electric buses Government purchased – European Engineers Keep Finding a Secret Kill Switch in Chinese Buses – ZME Science December 4, 2025)
Only consumers can protect themselves from having the highest electricity rate in the world. Residential and Business Electricity Prices by Country (2023-2026 averages) in USD/kWh, Bermuda $0.465! #1 in the world!
If you want to lower your electricity bill, the quickest way is to have a LICENSED electrician install a timer on your water heater. Set it to run for a few hours a day. We do 5am to 6am, and 7pm to 8pm. Pays for itself in a few months. Another idea that I submitted to Government as part of its energy plan years ago along with several others. Crickets on that.
The “untended consequences” phrase is an absurd excurse for pure incompetence in having zero subject matter expertise and outsourcing work to consulting companies instead Government employees having that internal knowledge. I will end with this GEM:
95.8% OF CLIMATE POLICIES ARE POINTLESS BUT COSTLY
In the first major study of its kind, researchers from several European institutions analyzed 1,500 climate policies implemented (between 1998 and 2022) across 41 countries since the turn of the century. ONLY 63 WERE FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE.
THAT MEANS 1,437 POLICIES (95.8%) WERE FUTILE & FAILED. A meager 4.2% success rate would put most companies or organizations out of business or get someone fired. Such low rates of return are troublesome, but somehow, governments can get away with it. – RealClear Energy, “Most Climate Policies Are Pointless But Costly” by Kristen Walker, September 23, 2024
Observed Results of policies:
Brownouts/blackouts
Child labor for mining
Energy poverty
Environmental damages mining rare earths
Higher energy bills
Higher food costs
Increased cost of living
Increased housing costs
Inefficient energy infrastructure
Inflation
Loss of agricultural land
Loss of forests
Shortages of resources
Strain on the electric grid
Wasted taxpayer money
Wildlife deaths – birds, bats, whales, dolphins, etc.
Go green! Toddles.