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Hon Flax-Charles backs new BVIEC Chair to address issues of high electricity bills

- said she too has experienced the problem
Junior Minister of Tourism Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL), left, is optimistic the new Chairperson of the BVIEC Board of Directors, Mrs Rosemarie Flax, right, will address the problem of ‘exorbitant prices for electricity’. Photo: Youtube/Facebook
According to Junior Minister of Tourism Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL), she often hears the complaints of persons who pay exorbitant prices for electricity, adding that she too has experienced that. Photo: VINO/File
According to Junior Minister of Tourism Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL), she often hears the complaints of persons who pay exorbitant prices for electricity, adding that she too has experienced that. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With customers of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) often complaining about a spike in their electricity bills, Junior Minister of Tourism Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) is optimistic the new Chairperson of the BVIEC Board of Directors, Mrs Rosemarie Flax will address the problem.

Hon Flax-Charles was at the time adding her contribution to the debate on the motion to approve Mrs Flax as Chairperson during the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly today, Thursday, November 14, 2019.

‘Exorbitant prices’

“She makes good choices because she chose a Virgin Gordian to be her husband,” Hon Flax-Charles joked, but added that she knows for certain Mrs Flax will look at one of the things she believes is most important to the people of the territory- the cost for electricity.

“I often hear the complaints of persons who pay exorbitant prices for electricity. I too have experienced that,” Hon Flax-Charles stated.

She explained that sometimes persons may be away from their home for a month, with just a refrigerator left running, only to return to discover that the electricity bill is the same price as the month before or even higher.

“And the excuse we always get is the fuel variation charge and nobody can tell us how that is computed. So, Mrs Flax, I know as a woman you will look into that.”

‘Fair & honest’

Businesswoman Mrs Rosemary Flax, is a former Managing Director of financial services entity Mossack Fonseca, and has over 4 decades of experience in the financial services industry, with many of those years at a managerial level.

Further expressing her support for Mrs Flax as BVIEC Board Chair, Hon Flax-Charles said she can safely say that women multi-task a lot better than men and that she is confident Mrs Flax will be able to “juggle” all of the things that the Chair of the Electricity Board calls for.

“As a mother, as a grandmother, I know that you will be fair. I know that you will not allow any type of interference, political otherwise, to cloud your judgement or to cloud your decision making process. We campaigned on being fair and being honest and I know that I can expect from you the fairness and honesty that you are well known for throughout the British Virgin Islands,” Hon Flax added.

12 Responses to “Hon Flax-Charles backs new BVIEC Chair to address issues of high electricity bills”

  • question (14/11/2019, 20:26) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can someone please explain the fuel variation charge...does it have anything to do with long and short days. For example it gets dark at or before six o'clock now and this will go on until December 22nd when the season changes and the days begin to gradually get longer. I can see how the Electricity Corporation will consume a bit more fuel for the extra period of darkness. Is this the reason for the fuel variation charge?
    • Slim Jim (14/11/2019, 20:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      The concept is rather simple actually:

      The cost of fuel.... varies (see equation below)

      (COST OF FUEL + MANDATORY PROFIT MARGINS + MAINTENANCE FEES FOR OVERWORKED GENERATORS) x TIME OF THE YEAR FACTOR* = HIGH ELECTRICAL BILL

      *(Summertime months = x2, August Festival Week = x4, Christmas/New Year Season = x3)
    • 2 CENT (15/11/2019, 09:38) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      My people for tooooo long we have been getting swindled BVIEC get fuel on a contract the awarded to a company to provide X amount of fuel for X amount of years, which mean fuel was already paid for at a fixed rate for the set period of time hence the contract granting to said company. How in gods name does the fuel price change so often for fuel that was already paid for / agreed upon at a set rate?? And even if fuel prices go up which i don't understand how that should affect a agreed price the difference should be divided amount the entire BVI customers not per customer as it seems to be doing !! loop holes all over this place. !
      • Kingfish (15/11/2019, 11:58) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        @2Cents

        You are right, it is one of the biggest rip offs that is placed on the backs on every citizen, not just for electric service, you see it at the gas {petrol} stations also. The tanks at a gas station is filled and you are paying a price per gallon, an hour or two later the news tells us the price of crude oil has increased within a hour later the price per gallon is increased. Why is that ? it is pure and simple greed.
  • BVIEC (14/11/2019, 20:46) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply

    Greedy L...... ain’t lowering nada and if he actually do only then we can’t get a raise lmao.. this is the same man who never use to pay his electricity bills and only got suspended for it but keep it on the hush though that’s a BVIEC secret

  • Notonmywatch (14/11/2019, 21:07) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    What really gets me is the total disregard and empathy for the fact that we have had a devastating disaster (for some not all). The truth of the matter is that some would be able to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and continue as though nothing had happened. As a matter of fact Irma, saved some businesses which were otherwise failing before the hurricane. Then there are those because of many other circumstances who it will still take another three to four years to recover. But like we are afraid to let anyone know we are in trouble. We wont come together. We wont talk about the problems, or the solutions, So we suck salt and die.
  • 911 (14/11/2019, 21:39) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    a very good choice by the Premier, but save her for FSC where she belongs
  • hm (14/11/2019, 22:47) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Is she the VG rep or Territorial? Everything out her mouth is Virgin Gorda. Sister same thing for tourism. Everyting is VG not BVI.
  • That fro (14/11/2019, 23:04) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Loving that Afro
  • Hairdresser (15/11/2019, 09:21) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Sis, I've seen you around and as a government minister mister, you need to come see me ASAP
  • Bill (15/11/2019, 16:54) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    People need to check their appliances for malfunctions, I use to be upset with my light bill for years, not realizing my fridge was not working right. When I changed my fridge, my light bill was cut in half. Unplug appliances you are not using daily and use energy saving bulbs. Also do not leave lights on in rooms no one is in or leave on the porch light for no particular reason.


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