Consumers to realise Government’s 50 percent electricity subsidy soon

~~Adz:Left~~ Roadtown, Tortola - Consumers across the Territory will soon realise the reduction in their electricity bills for November consumption.

The Ministry of Communications and Works and the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) are informing the public that they will receive their bills with the 50 percent subsidy of their November electricity consumption in December, but that bill will not become due and payable until January, 2009.  

They are appealing to consumers to understand that there is a one month lapse between consumption and when bills become due and payable and as such, consumers are now paying bills for their electricity consumption in October.

General Manager of the British Virgin Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) Mr. Leroy Abraham told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the bills will show the full amount that is currently due and a note will be placed on the bill indicating that customers are only liable for 50 percent of the current amount due.  “When customers come to the BVIEC to pay their bill in January, the 50 percent paid by Government will be reflected on their account as a credit,” Mr. Abraham said.  
He added that the subsidy to consumers is timely and the BVIEC is happy to facilitate this measure.

Premier and Minister for Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE announced at the first sitting of the second session of the First House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands, Government’s decision to reduce the cost of November electricity consumption by 50 percent for all residents in response to the rising cost of electricity caused by fuel prices on the world market and the increase on the overall cost of living in the Territory.

Government remains aware of the impact of the rising cost of living in the Territory and is committed to instituting appropriate measures to bring relief to residents. Government is also urging residents to be prudent in their spending particularly during the holiday season.