Opposition Leader calls for sustained electricity subsidy until end of 2026
Hon Penn suggested this in an August 25, 2026, statement in response to high electricity bills received by BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) customers for July consumption.
BVIEC General Manager Dr Neil M. Smith said customers will receive a credit in the future during a press conference on August 25, 2026. Dr Smith at the time was not prepared to say exactly what that credit would be, explaining that the final rate would be determined after possible Cabinet approval.
“I am calling for a sustained electricity subsidy through the end of this year.”
Address the situation now
Hon Penn said the people need immediate action and “not a promissory band-aid, not a promise of a future credit, not a situation where families are expected to pay bills they cannot afford today and wait months to receive some form of relief tomorrow”.
Customers cannot be given a credit for bills they cannot afford to pay in the first place, he stated. “The government believes relief is necessary; then address the bills now; put the subsidy directly where the people need it on the electricity bill.”
The Opposition Leader also said the government must reconsider its approach to businesses and the immediate removal of the subsidy for businesses.
“When we increase the cost of electricity for businesses, that cost does not simply disappear; it gets passed on… it shows up in operating costs, and ultimately the consumer pays again. So while the government may speak about protecting 95 per cent of customers, the reality is that cost will ripple through the entire economy.”
Long-term energy strategy needed
Hon Penn added that the Virgin Islands need a long-term energy strategy and not another temporary subsidy.
“The territory needs to confront the underlying problems. We need an independent and comprehensive tariff study to determine the true cost of electricity generation and distribution in the Virgin Islands.”
He said the people of the Virgin Islands deserve transparency and need to understand what they are paying for, why they are paying it, and what portion of their electricity bill represents the actual cost of producing and delivering electricity
Hon Penn reasoned that once such information is provided, an honest conversation about what constitutes a reasonable and sustainable electricity rate needs to happen.
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