No entry tonight! Just off to the Sugar Mill for dinner. Been a couple years since I have been there but it was usually my favorite place so I am looking forward to it! 4 of our guests for tomorrow are staying there tonight and invited us out for dinner, so I am sure I will have pictures tomorrow.
I got this a few days ago from the BVICCHA meeting with the Electricity Corporation along with a break down for those people who could not be there, and i thought some people would be interested in the Power Point Presentation the BVIEC had. The link is
here
As well as the notes that came around with it.
Rate Structure
There are two types of electricity rates: (a) the fixed consumption rate, which has remained constant over the past 28 years; and (b) the variable consumption rate, which is the fuel variation surcharge (FVS). The FVS never exceeds the fixed rate. When the cost of fuel was at its peak, the surcharge was about 40% of one's bill; it is now at about 30% with the decrease in fuel costs.
Increased Demand
The demand for electricity has increased exponentially over the past 20 years, due in large measure to the proliferation of ACs and instant water heaters. Even when the cost of fuel was at its peak in July, the demand remained unchanged. When the demand exceeds the reserve margin of the eight generating units, power outages occur. Members were concerned that these power outages are causing irreparable harm to their equipment. BVIEC explained that, following an assessment of reported damages, if BVIEC is deemed responsible, it will repair or replace the damaged equipment. It was also noted that since some of the problems are attributable to shoddy electrical jobs, members should have their electric circuits checked.
Market Prices
It was determined that any attempt to hedge against future increases in fuel costs would be too risky for BVIEC, and a difficult "sell" to consumers.
Renewable Sources of Energy
Permission to use renewable sources of energy -- solar, wind, wave, etc., must be obtained from the Government, and cannot be fed back into BVIEC. The process of obtaining Government approvals, however, needs to happen with greater expediency.
Electric Poles and Lines
BVIEC promised to remove branches, vegetation and other obstructions from the electric poles and lines.
Personal Responsibility
It was recognized that greater vigilance about our consumption of electricity is a win-win situation for everyone and our environment.
New Initiatives
1) An advanced metering infrastructure will soon be implemented that would, among other things, allow for the remote reading of meters.
2) A new bill format will be implemented that will show customers their rates for the current billing period, as well as their electric consumption history for the past 12 months. In preparation for the launching of this new bill, BVIEC will conduct a public education campaign.
