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Bermuda Electric Light Company has one primary objective: to supply our customers with safe, reliable and affordable electricity.
Our ultimate goal is to become a renewable energy company and we are working steadily towards that. My personal commitment to the people of Bermuda — our valued customers — is honest and transparent communication.
One of my personal goals upon being appointed president of Belco was to enhance our community engagement — through meeting with the residents in our local neighbourhoods, to town hall meetings, to online webinars and community outreach.
I believe we can all agree that for too long we have been reliant on imported fossil fuels. Pricing on these fuels can fluctuate wildly owing to global supply and demand, but, perhaps most importantly, the burning of these fuels impacts our environment and creates issues for our neighbours.
The cost of electricity is a burdensome expense for many Bermudians, which means we, Belco, must continuously look for ways to generate and deliver reliable service in a more cost-effective manner.
No one wants a fossil fuel power plant in their backyard, but with Bermuda’s limited landmass, the only short-term option was to build a generation plant, while the long-term strategy calls for a big change to a renewable energy future.
A culture of change is what we are implementing in our company. We are committed to a sustainable future; a renewable future. A reliable energy future at an affordable price for the power that sustains our way of life.
Between that future and now, there are undeniable realities we face. Facts we as a community must face together — and work together — to create sustainable and affordable solutions for a future we all desire and deserve.
Belco has been operating the North Power Station for about a year. Yes, there were, and remain, some teething problems, but we have made significant progress and continue to work to run the plant at optimal efficiency and improving emissions. It is the last fossil-fuelled plant Belco will ever build.
Until we have researched, financed, built and integrated large-scale renewable energy sources — be it wind, solar, biomass or some combination — we must continue to run our power plant to supply Bermuda’s base load of energy. Residents rely on it, as do our hospitals, tourism industry, international business, schools and telecommunications — everything that requires a reliable source of electricity.
There has been recently some confusion concerning Belco’s rates and the order issued by the Regulatory Authority last Sunday that the retail tariff — the base rate that customers pay for electricity — would be reduced.
In the spirit of transparency, outlining the make-up of Belco bills will assist in illustrating where we are and what the future may hold as far as the price of electricity for our customers.
The base rate is simply the cost of building, operating and maintaining the infrastructure used to produce, transmit and deliver electricity to the homes and businesses across our island.
This amount is billed monthly and is segregated into variable and fixed charges. For residential and small commercial customers, the variable charges are outlined as Billing Charges on your bill and there is an inclining rate block structure, meaning the less you use, the lower the price.
For residential customers, the fixed component, listed as Facilities Charge, is based on each customer’s average daily kilowatt-hour consumption over the previous 12-month period, which is reassessed monthly to reflect an Annual Rolling Daily Average.
The Fuel Adjustment Rate reflects the total cost to deliver fuel to Belco’s central plant and comprises two parts — the actual delivered cost of fuel and Bermuda Government taxes. The fuel cost is based on the total purchase cost of fuel and includes shipping cost, supplier profit margin, local receipt, handling, storage and transport via pipeline from Ferry Reach in St George’s to the Belco Central Plant in Pembroke.
Belco uses Heavy Fuel Oil and No 2 diesel to power its engines to produce electricity. Both of these are refined fuels, which are not directly linked to crude oil prices. Consequently, they will not exhibit the same price behaviour as crude oil. However, as the price of crude increases, so, too, does the price of refined fuels.
The second part of the FAR comprises two separate government taxes. At present, the Government charges $31.79 per barrel of fuel in addition to a tax of $0.40 per barrel of fuel to fund the St George’s Unesco World Heritage Site.
Once the total cost of fuel is determined, the fuel adjustment charge is calculated by multiplying the FAR with a consumer’s total kWh energy usage.
Because of the potential volatility in fuel prices, the FAR is calculated quarterly and rises and falls as the purchase price of Belco’s fuel rises and falls. The quarterly adjustment in the FAR is published by the Regulatory Authority and is reflected on customers’ bills in the next billing cycle.
During the past six months, the price of oil has steadily increased from a low of approximately $35.50 to almost $70.00 today, or a 100 per cent increase. Consequently, refined fuels are also more expensive.
As a result of this increase in price, it is very likely the FAR will increase in the coming months. This increase will mostly offset the Retail Tariff reduction that comes into effect on June 1. The FAR is a cost-recovery mechanism, which means Belco bills only the actual cost of fuel — no profit or mark-up.
We are acutely aware that Bermudians have been suffering financially, socially and emotionally as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns and economic turmoil. At Belco, we pledged to do our part to assist and bring financial relief to our customers by continuing to work with the Regulatory Authority.
To clarify misinformation in the public domain, an average residential customer consuming 600kWh in December 2019 would have paid $163.33 in base electricity rates, $63.00 in fuel adjustment, inclusive of government taxes on fuel, and $2.85 in Regulatory Authority fees. The gross total for that consumer would have been $229.18.
The same average residential consumer (600kWh) in June 2021 will pay $143.72 in base electricity rates, $74.22 in fuel adjustment, inclusive of government taxes on fuel, and $3.81 in Regulatory Authority fees. The gross total for the consumer is $221.75.
With the recent increase in the RA fee, implemented in April, and the shift in a portion of fuel charges from base rates to the FAR, as mandated by the RA, the overall impact to the consumer is a 3.2 per cent reduction or savings of $7.43/month (approximately $89 per year).
The comparisons above are to prices from almost a year and a half ago. The realities of today are most customers will see a modest decrease in their bills in June and then likely see increases in the FAR the very next month.
Belco, alongside myself, commits to the people of Bermuda to be honest and transparent.
I am humbled and honoured to work with the exceptional team at Belco who work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep the lights on. I thank them for their dedicated service.
I look forward to continuing our community outreach and providing progress reports as we work to become a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy utility, and to energise the future prosperity of Bermuda.
• Wayne Caines is writing in his capacity as the president of Belco
Original RG Link: https://www.royalgazette.com/opinion-writer/opinion/article/20210521/energising-for-future-prosperity/
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The Regulatory Authority announced that it has reduced the Retail Tariff for the second year in a row, and has lifted the moratorium to “allow 5G technology to be deployed in Bermuda.” A spokesperson said, “The Regulatory Authority [the RA] is mandated by law to:
- promote and preserve competition in Bermuda;
- promote the development of the local economy; and
- promote innovation in the sectors it regulates.
“As such, the RA is pleased to announce the status updates to three initiatives in the Electricity and Electronic Communications sectors: Electricity Sector:
- “The RA reduces the Retail Tariff for the second year in a row. With a focus on providing relief to consumers due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Retail Tariff [“RT”] has been reduced. The RT is the rate at which electricity per kilowatt hour is sold to a consumer and is reflected on a BELCO bill as the ‘Usage Charge’. Electronic Communications Sector.
- “RA lifts the moratorium on 5G. After an extensive review process, the RA’s Board of Commissioners has lifted the moratorium to allow 5G technology to be deployed in Bermuda. This decision is based on the compelling benefits that consumers and local and international businesses will reap – such as enhanced mobility, connectivity, reliability, and security, and includes strict safety measures and adherence to Appropriate Safety Standards as referenced by several International Standards bodies.
- “Communications licences were issued to three new providers in the Electronic Communications sector. Increased competition typically benefits consumers through greater product variety, lower prices, and higher quality services.
“For more information, visit www.ra.bm.”
Original BerNews Link: https://bernews.com/2021/05/ra-reduces-retail-tariff-lifts-5g-moratorium/
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Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, and Earth Day 2024 will occur on Monday, April 22, the holiday's 54th anniversary. The holiday is now a global celebration, sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on environmental action and sustainable living.
Celebrate Earth Day with a challenge that makes everyone a winner!
We took the Earth Day theme “Invest in Your Planet”, and turned it into “Invest in Your Parish” – a new, interactive photo challenge. Now it’s a race to see which parish will commit to the most environmental actions from Saturday, April 20th to Monday, April 22nd. We’ve teamed up with Hink so you can share high-resolution photos of friends, family, and colleagues as they take part in their Earth Day Challenge commitments, from planting trees to cleaning up the coast, from going on a nature walk to using your cycle or zero-emission vehicles. There are 13 actions – choose one, or challenge yourself to complete them all!
Which parish will secure the top spot in the 2024 Bermuda Earth Day Challenge? The choice is yours! Download Hink from the App Store or Google Play and “Invest in Your Parish” in high resolution!
What is the Earth Day Challenge?
To participate, first, Register Today! and then commit to as many of the following activities as possible to help your parish secure the top spot!
Instructions for The New Earth Day Interactive Photo Challenge are listed below
- Reduce energy consumption
- Cook your meals at home
- Remember to recycle
- Spend time outdoors
- Clean up the coast
- Buy local produce and seafood
- Go plastic free
- Plant a few trees
- Go for a nature walk
- Do some gardening at home
- Ride your cycle or use zero emission vehicles
- Go meatless for the day
- Pick up waste in your area
Sign Up Today!
We've partnered with Hink to create a NEW Interactive Photo Challenge
Share your best photos of friends, family, or work colleagues taking environmental action on Hink and help your parish secure the top spot in the Earth Day Challenge 2024!
Amateurs, professionals and smartphone photographers are all invited to participate.
The rules are simple.
Download Hink and create an account (takes about thirty seconds)
Make sure you have not disabled the location on your camera app. Click here if you need help doing that.
If you are using a digital camera sign up here to get a link to the web uploader where you can also set the location from where you took the photos.
Take great photos of friends, family, or work colleagues taking environmental action. An image should have at least one person in the frame to be eligible. Be creative and try to capture the person actively engaged! Be sure to upload your photos before midnight on Monday, April 22nd to participate.
Download any photos on the app and share them on your social media platforms. Read here for more information on how Hink works.
A team of three (3) preselected volunteers will monitor the interactive Earth Day Challenge site map and tally up the relevant photos of individual actions uploaded to Hink in each parish. The parish with the highest number of individual environmental actions posted on the interactive map will win. The winning Parish Council will receive assistance from the participating environmental organizations with an environmental initiative or help them solve an environmental challenge in their parish.
Please remember, Hink is in the early stages of development and we love feedback. If you need help or have suggestions, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We all know that people always want great shots of themselves, so let’s take some amazing photos on Earth Day!
Call us at 441.747.7625 for more information or to discuss how you can get involved.
Earth Day Activities
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
Sustainable Farming Workshop
Join us for a walking tour of FoodForest. An ecological microsystem of biological sustainability that incorporates several varieties of fruits, vegetables, roots, berries, and nuts. Learn how regenerative agriculture is the only alternative to the fragile micro system our communities depend on. This educational experience is free for Greenrock members. Fresh, organic vegetables will be for sale.
Sunday, April 23, 2023
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Greenrock is proud to announce that WEDCO, the City of Hamilton, the Corporation of St. George, BELCO, The Department of Public Transportation, the Cabinet Office, and numerous Government departments will all be participating in Earth Hour this year.
Chairman of the Board, Eugene Dean said, “Having support from major stakeholders is key to the success of our campaign. While individual participation is extremely important to our movement, participation from governments and large corporations is just as essential. Their participation helps to ensure that laws, policy frameworks and infrastructure developments are all in alignment with the goals we seek to achieve. Sustainable development is the foundation to sustainable living, which means that they both need to grow hand in hand. Everyone has a role to play in creating a sustainable future for Bermuda and, for that reason, we are pleased to have so many of the island’s core organizations involved.”
The Premier, David Burt confirmed that the Cabinet Office will be participating in Earth Hour and followed through with his commitment to encourage all Government departments to participate as well. The Department of Public Transportation confirmed that it will be dimming lights at the Hamilton bus terminal this year and representatives from the Corporation of St. George confirmed that they will continue with their tradition of turning off lights on Water Street, Ordinance Island, in King’s Square and the Town Hall Building.
The Mayor of Hamilton, Charles Gosling, shared how the City will be participating, what they are doing to operate more sustainably and why it is important for everyone to get involved: “The City of Hamilton is pleased to once again support Greenrock in recognizing Earth Hour in order to further awareness about the urgent need for energy conservation globally. As such, we will shut off all lights in and outside of the City Hall building on Saturday, March 27th between 8:30pm and 9:30pm as well as the Works Depot which will have all lights turned off for the hour.
“Over the past few years, the City has made a more concerted effort to be greener. We’ve changed the bulbs in City offices and properties as well as the streetlights to LED, transitioned to an electric fleet for City vehicles, and moved to a paperless system for our Board agendas and meetings. Additionally, in February of this year, the City oversaw the installation of 78 solar panels at its Front Street pump station which, it is anticipated, will save the City more than $30,000 a year on electricity costs.
“The City already has a significant solar panel installation at its Works Depot and has plans for further installations on some of its other buildings including Pier 6 and Customs House. Additionally, the City has plans to install solar carports on the fourth floor of Bull’s Head car park and the City Hall car park which will offset electricity costs at the Works Depot as well as City Hall. City technicians are also working hard from an efficiency perspective – carrying out interior renovations such as converting the City’s lighting network to LED and finding innovative ways to reduce HVAC costs.
“We encourage all City taxpayers, be it restaurants, retailers, businesses or residents to all do their part to reduce their consumption during Earth Hour, by switching off non-essential lighting. We are all responsible for the state of our planet and it is up to each and every one of us to do our part to make a difference.”
In a recent interview with Greenrock, General Manager of WEDCO, Andrew Dias shares the numerous ways WEDCO has embarked upon developing properties in the West End sustainably. Click here to watch the interview.
BELCO, recently impacted by the high profile acquisition of its parent company Ascendant Group Ltd., now owned by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., is on the cusp of embarking upon a new journey that will see the company culture evolve. While most appreciate the fact that renewable energy will play some part in their energy mix, few may realize the extent to which sustainability has the potential to redefine the future of their operations. With that said, we feel positive about what we know of their newly-found direction, and are very pleased to have BELCO as Earth Steward Sponsors again this year. We are appreciative of the assistance the company has provided us annually with this initiative and look forward to working with its team to find the most effective ways to provide the people of Bermuda with clean, affordable and renewable energy.
Greenrock encourages everyone to tune in to our Earth Hour Live broadcast at 6:30pm and turn off any unnecessary lights from 8:30pm - 9:30pm while taking time to pause and reflect on adopting new behaviours that reduce our carbon footprint, help us live more sustainably, and inspire others to do the same. Anyone interested in supporting Greenrock or taking part in Earth Hour this year should visit our website www.greenrock.org or contact us via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please sign our Take Part Form to register your participation.
Submitted on Friday, March 26th, 2021
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Greenrock is proud to announce that SailGP - the sport’s pinnacle league that starts its season next month in Bermuda - is supporting its 2021 Earth Hour Campaign this year as an Earth Steward Sponsor.
SailGP is powered by nature and driven by purpose, and uses its global platform to champion a better world powered by nature, with a focus on accelerating a transition to clean energy. In addition to the partnership, SailGP is committed to full staff participation and encouraging its local partners to take part in the campaign.
“We are very pleased to have SailGP involved with our campaign this year,” says Greenrock Chairman Eugene Dean. “Having a cutting-edge, international sporting brand advocating with us for nature and sustainability, raises the profile of our efforts and expands the reach of our campaign beyond our shores. Already the relationship has paid dividends, with several local agencies, government departments and participating vendors reaching out to us about Earth Hour as a result of SailGP encouraging them to get actively involved.”
Established as the first climate positive sport and entertainment property, SailGP recently achieved both the Carbon Neutral International Standard and joined the UN Climate Neutral Now Initiative, plus the international sustainability standard ISO20121 – ensuring it delivers its events to the highest operating standard. While setting new standards and inspiring action globally, SailGP has developed partnerships with a host of other like-minded businesses and organisations, right here in Bermuda.
“Being a league that travels the globe means we need to take a closer look at every aspect of our day-to-day operations, ensuring we’re making decisions that align with our purpose”, says Alexandra Rickham, SailGP Sustainability Manager. “For instance, at each event we are using solar to help charge the F50 foiling catamarans’ batteries and power the technical areas.”
“As a climate positive business - we measure, reduce and offset our carbon footprint at every opportunity. Trialling new technology to help reduce our on-water operations is just one of many examples of this”, adds Alexandra.Collaborating with local organisations such as Greenrock, SailGP is, in turn, supported in its efforts to host sustainable events utilising clean energy. The reciprocal relationship of utilising local suppliers to keep their footprint smaller and local economic impact bigger is a winning combination.
“Holding regular conversations with the SailGP Sustainability Officers has been an enlightening experience for us”, says Eugene. “We have gained a tremendous understanding of the work they do to ensure that inclusion, social consciousness and environmental sustainability are both central to the organisation's mission, and seamlessly integrated into all levels of its operations.”
“Over time they are eliminating red meat from their menus and are increasing the presence of plant-based options in their meals. Their strict guidelines regarding waste reduction, waste management and waste removal have been developed to ensure that items are separated into various waste streams, reused and recycled, whenever possible, then disposed of correctly at the appropriate waste facility. All of these initiatives are driven by a commitment to operate more sustainably and as a country there are several opportunities for takeaways from observing and understanding their operations, that we can incorporate in activities we host year round.”
SailGP’s partnerships, that go beyond Bermuda’s shores, have taken an interest in Earth Hour and will be showing their support of the Island’s event. The City of Taranto, Italy – SailGP’s next host city following Bermuda – will be switching off the lights to their City Hall and the lights of one of the main city squares, Piazza Ebalia, as a show of solidarity.
Recognition surrounding the goodwill of SailGP’s local partners, who play an integral role in SailGP’s Race for the Future agenda, are getting involved in a variety of ways.
Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) - Official Host Partner - It will be ‘one hour, no power’ on Saturday evening at the Hamilton office location. Sharing information across their social feeds, the BTA will encourage others to do their part. The initiative aligns with the organisation’s 2025 aim to guide Bermuda on the path to becoming one of the ‘greenest’ tourist destinations, attracting visitors who value this through more eco-friendly practices and better use of its natural resources as outlined in the Bermuda National Tourism Plan.
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club - Title Partner - Turning off outdoor lights and reducing indoor lighting in public areas inclusive of their restaurants, patrons may experience the bonus of a candlelight dining experience, health and safety permitting.
WEDCO - Official Venue Partner - Lights will be turned off in the Royal Naval Dockyard in support of Earth Hour as a reminder to take action by living and developing more sustainably. Committed to the environment, the team at WEDCO are dedicated to the preservation of history and the sustainable development of their vested lands. Their solar panel installation project, wastewater treatment facility, electric vehicle recharge zone, reverse osmosis plant, and their LED lighting project are part of the growing list of amazing initiatives undertaken by this group.
BF&M - Official Partner - As well as pledging to support Greenrock, BF&M will be turning off their building lights, encouraging their staff to do the same at home, as a unified effort.
Butterfield - Official Partner - Also an official sponsor of Earth Hour, and with a workforce of over 600 employees, will promote supporting the initiatives within their organisation
Appleby - Official Partner. Official Law Firm of the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix Presented by Hamilton Princess - Will be turning off their outdoor lights and encouraging their employees to turn off all lights in their homes to support Earth Hour and help raise awareness of the importance of our planet.
This year Greenrock will countdown to Earth Hour with a live stream and television broadcast on Saturday, March 27th from 6:30pm to “Lights Out” featuring a youth segment, a community segment and a segment on the green economy. The two (2) hour program will be streamed live on the Greenrock website, our YouTube Channel and our Facebook Page. For more information please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 441.747.7625.
Submitted on Thursday, March 25th, 2021
Greenrock
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