Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has joined Virgin Islanders in solidarity as unaffordable electricity bills were received last month. Photo: NDP

BVIEC said it will apply a credit to customers’ September bills following extremely high August 2026 electricity bills, following discussions with the government. Photo: BVIEC

BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) customers received bills for July 2026 which reflected a major increase which has since been explained as being due to the corporation experiencing the highest fuel cost in its recorded history. Photo: BVIEC

BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) customers received bills for July and August, 2026 which reflected a major increase which has since been explained as being due to the corporation experiencing the highest fuel cost in its recorded history. The spike also occurred after the government’s three-month emergency fuel subsidy programme concluded.

“The bills are here, the increases are real, and for many families they are simply unaffordable,” Hon Penn said in an August 25, 2026, statement. “Less than a month after this government removed the electricity subsidy, Virgin Islanders are opening their August bills and seeing increases that in some cases have effectively double the burden placed on their household budgets.”

Hon Penn added that this is not merely a discussion anymore but reality as money is not coming directly from the people’s pocket. 

Opposition warned this would happen

“Let us be clear, my colleagues and I in the Opposition, warned this government that removing the subsidy would have consequences far beyond the narrow group of consumers identified by the minister in the House of Assembly.”

Hon Penn reminded that government assured that only a small percentage of customers would be affected, however, he said electricity bills arriving tell a different story. 

The targeted fuel subsidy adjustment, however, only came into effect on September 1, 2026.

Gov’t can’t balance its books on the people

“Government cannot balance its books on the backs of struggling families,” Hon Penn said. “Virgin Islanders did not cause the global energy crisis, they did not create international energy market instability, they did not decide the cost of fuel, but now this government is saying to the people, you absorb the shock, you carry the burden, you pay the bill.”

He said he rejects that approach as any responsible government does not pass on every external economic shock to its citizens. 

“Government exists to help shield its people from the storm, not to hand them the bill for the storm.”

Families in the Virgin Islands, he said are already dealing with the rising cost of groceries, fuel, rent, water and other necessities; while small businesses are struggling with increased operating costs. 

“Parents are trying to keep food on the table, and getting children prepared for school; and now the government wants to add another major burden to household electricity bills.”

Hon Penn said the income of the people are not keeping pace with the increase in expenses. 

“This government needs to stop asking the people to carry every burden and start carrying its share of the burden.”

BVIEC said it will apply a credit to customers’ September bills following extremely high August 2026 electricity bills, following discussions with the government.