BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - RECENTLY rumours have been circulating that, in the near future, the Federation would be seeing an increase in electricity tariffs.
These rumours were however deemed false by the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) who claims that they have no plans to increase rates.
The rumours were sanctioned by Hon. Shawn Richards who claimed that he received information from a former employee of SKELEC about the possible increase.
"I have been privy to a memo from a gentleman who previously worked at the Electricity Department. In that memo he indicated that the Electricity Department is contemplating a further increase in the tariffs that one pays for electricity so even though the fee is already very high, one could very well be seeing further increases in the price of electricity," Richards claimed.
SKNVibes spoke with SKELEC's Public Relations Officer Gawain Fraites who refuted the rumours, stating that he is not aware of the company considering an increase in taxes.
"I do not know anything about an increase in electricity tariffs, I cannot speak for later on but at present, there are no intentions to increase," Fraites explained.
Fraites further explained that SKELEC has no control over whether or not electricity tax increases or decreases as the Federation's government controls that aspect of the company.
"The tariffs are set by the government and we are guided by them. SKELEC cannot increase the prices and we cannot reduce the prices. It has to go through the government," he explained.
On the other hand, when asked about fuel surcharge, Fraites disclosed that the amount one pays in fuel surcharge is dependent on the price SKELEC pays for its fuel.
"The price of fuel fluctuates, and the fuel surcharge that one would pay depends on the amount SKELEC spends on the fuel. So if the fuel price goes up, so would the fuel surcharge and when it goes down, so would the fuel surcharge," he explained.
He further explained that that is why persons would see a fluctuation in their electricity bills.
The last time consumers were slapped with an increase was in the second half of 2010 when the Federation's government restored fuel surcharge after removing it in late 2009.
