By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has welcomed the Public Utilities Commission’s Initial Decision on its tariff submission for the 2025/2026 Annual Tariff Period, a decision that leaves base electricity rates unchanged while introducing a new mechanism to reflect the cost of power on customer bills.
In its submission, BEL proposed no changes to the base electricity rate. The company also proposed the introduction of an automatic Cost of Power Adjustment, known as COPA, designed to ensure timely recovery of costs associated with power purchases from the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) of Mexico and other Independent Power Producers.
According to BEL, the cost of purchased power represents the largest component of providing electricity service in Belize. The company says the COPA mechanism is intended to improve transparency, fairness, and timeliness in how changes in the cost of power are reflected on bills. Importantly, BEL stressed that COPA is not simply an additional charge, and that the adjustment can move either upward or downward depending on actual power costs. When the actual cost of power exceeds the reference cost approved by the PUC, a limited adjustment may apply. When it is lower, BEL says customers will benefit from a reduction as the savings are passed through.
Under the newly approved structure, BEL outlined several points for customers. The base electricity rates approved by the PUC remain unchanged, providing stability for households and businesses. The Cost of Power Adjustment will appear as a separate line item on bills, allowing customers to see how power procurement costs affect their monthly charges. The Government has also announced that the adjustment will be exempt from GST.
BEL further noted that when its cost of power falls below the approved reference cost, customers will enjoy reductions as the savings are passed on directly. To guard against sharp increases, the company says the mechanism uses a six-month rolling average to smooth out short-term fluctuations, with the adjustment capped at approximately 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in either direction.
BEL acknowledged the concerns many customers have about electricity costs, particularly during periods of higher consumption. The company said the Cost of Power Adjustment provides a more transparent and equitable approach to reflecting changes in power costs, while ensuring savings are passed on in a timely manner when costs decline. BEL reaffirmed its commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable energy, while improving transparency and confidence in the billing process.
The post No change to base electricity rates, BEL says appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has welcomed the Public Utilities Commission’s Initial Decision on its tariff submission for the 2025/2026 Annual Tariff Period, a decision that leaves base electricity rates unchanged while introducing a new mechanism to reflect the cost of power on customer bills. In its submission, BEL proposed
The post No change to base electricity rates, BEL says appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.