By Zoila Palma: During a UDP press conference on November 3, 2026, Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton said that Belize simply cannot afford any rate increase from the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL).
BEL has requested the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to double the monthly Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) cap from 5% to 10% of the approved Reference Cost of Power.
“Because we simply cannot afford it. How much more money are we going to invest-not invest, use to bail out BEL-without understanding the last three years BEL had record returns on investment? In the COVID era was when BEL recorded the highest net profits for $36.6 million; 2021 was $34 million, almost $35 million; 2022 almost $20 million. Where are those resources?,” Panton said.
Panton said that Belize must have “an honest and an open conversation. There must be an audit before we can agree to any increase in the COPA.”
The post Leader of Opposition on BEL: “We simply cannot afford it (rate increase)” appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: During a UDP press conference on November 3, 2026, Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton said that Belize simply cannot afford any rate increase from the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). BEL has requested the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to double the monthly Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) cap from 5% to 10%
The post Leader of Opposition on BEL: “We simply cannot afford it (rate increase)” appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
