Home » Posts » BLPC confidentiality hearing delayed

BLPC confidentiality hearing delayed

by Emmanuel Joseph
2 min read
A+A-
Reset

The confidentiality hearing on an application from the Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC) to keep certain information from the public has been suspended.                     

The matter, which was scheduled to be heard last Wednesday by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) leading up to the hearing for an interim rate increase, has now been placed on hold for possibly another two weeks.

“The confidentiality hearing was suspended due to an objection from an intervenor, and we are in the process of dealing with that matter before we can proceed,” Chief Executive Officer of the FTC Marsha Atherley-Ikechi revealed to Barbados TODAY on Monday. “It has been adjourned until we get back to that, which should be, I would say, before month-end,” she added.

During an interview last Tuesday, the FTC’s chief executive said that the commission had initiated the confidentiality hearing about two or three weeks before, but it had to be postponed because of an “intervening matter”.

“That matter was considered and now we are moving ahead with the confidentiality hearing for the general rate application,” she explained last week.                                         

In its application, the BLPC is asking the FTC to exclude certain “confidential” information from being made known to the public during the rate hearing.                                     

Meanwhile, the date for the main rate hearing is still known. Confirmation of a date will depend on separate decisions on the confidentiality and interim rate increase applications.  Back in April, the FTC said it had approved eight intervenors who will be challenging the BLPC’s proposed basic rate increase. It said then that the hearings would start mid-May.

In its application filed in September 2021, the electricity company told the FTC it was critical for the viability of BLP that interim rate relief at the proposed rates be allowed by November 1, 2021, until a final decision was made on the main request. The country’s sole power company has contended that it would be unable to fund its planned investments to meet customer needs if it does not get the interim hike.

The company is seeking increases ranging from $2 to $6 more per month for domestic customers and between $4 and $10 more for general service users.                                 

If the increases are approved, the energy bill for large power customers would move from $1,287.00 per month for each service to $1,587 per month and secondary voltage customers’ rate would move from $149 to $169 per month.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

You may also like

About Us

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

Useful Links

Get Our News

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

BT Lifestyle

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Accept Privacy Policy

-
00:00
00:00
Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00