FTC still to determine BLPC rate increase

Barbadians will have to wait until about next month to know how much electricity rates will change.

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) says it is awaiting more information from the Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC) to determine the final rate.

Last year, the FTC held a rate hearing to decide on the utility company’s request for an increase in basic rates.

A short while ago, chairman of the rate hearing panel Dr Donley Carrington announced that the FTC had denied a series of BL&P’s requests within the application which would impact on the final figure.

He said BL&P has been given three weeks to comply with orders regarding those aspects denied and a final decision will be delivered about two weeks after that compliance report is handed over.

In the meantime, Carrington said, the interim rates will continue to apply.

Last September, the FTC granted the BLPC an interim rate increase of between $1 and $3 for domestic service customers.

The power company has applied for an 11.9 per cent increase in basic rates.