CUC rate hike coming in June

Electricity users will see a 2.4 per cent increase in their June bills, following an increase of the base rate of power charges by the Caribbean Utility Company.

“There will be a 2.4 percent average increase on base rates. This increase will take effect on June 1, 2009, and it will be reflected on bills rendered in June,” a statement released by CUC on Friday, 1 May, said.

The company said it had not increased its base rates in seven years, since August 2002, but needed to increase the rates now to remain economically viable.

Huge hikes in electricity bills seen last summer were due to increased costs of fuel worldwide.

Philip Thomas, managing director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, which must verify the calculations upon which the rate increase is based before it can be passed on to customers, said: “The scheduled increase will affect only the base rate charge. The fuel factor charge continues to decline as international fuel prices have declined from the highs of 2008.”

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