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‘Something needs to be done about this fuel surcharge!’- Shaina M. Smith-Archer

- as residents continue to complain about drastic increase in electricity bills
Residents and businesses in the territory have recently been taken aback with the sharp increase in charges on their electricity bills supplied by the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC). Right: Shaina M. Smith-Archer. Photo: Internet Source
The issue of the drastic increase in fuel surcharge was first highlighted by commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline on his Honestly Speaking radio show on April 26, 2022. Photo: Facebook
The issue of the drastic increase in fuel surcharge was first highlighted by commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline on his Honestly Speaking radio show on April 26, 2022. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Residents and businesses in the territory have recently been taken aback with the sharp increase in charges on their electricity bills supplied by the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC).

Some persons have complained that their electricity bill charge has risen by as much as 75%.

“My bill has climbed steadily since January from $88.03 to $131.36! What in the world???

‘This is double billing!’ Smith-Archer

“Now imagine what retirees like my mother on a fixed income are facing or the unemployed. This is double billing! Can the Complaints Commissioner look into this?” Shaina M. Smith-Archer commented on her Facebook page on May 8, 2022.

Smith-Archer added that her electricity bill is saying one amount and the payment portal another figure.

“Definitely going into our friends at BVIEC to see what's going on, or my next stop is Qwomar to look for kerosene lamps,” Smith-Archer wrote.

‘They really plan to kill us’- Skelton-Cline

The issue of the drastic increase in fuel surcharge was highlighted by commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline on his Honestly Speaking radio show on April 26, 2022.

“They really plan to kill us,” Skelton-Cline commented.

He explained that for April the fuel surcharge on his electricity bill was $0.13 per kilowatt hour but it has now risen to $0.21 for May.

“And you know the difference between that $0.13 kwh and $0.21 between April and May of the same year, the consecutive months? $659.62.”

According to the businessman, what he can’t understand is that his electricity usage is fundamentally the same.

Gov’t should address issue ‘urgently’- Skelton-Cline

Skelton-Cline added that he knows the Managing Director and others at the BVIEC would have some explanation why the electricity bills are so high, but the Government of the Day should seek to address it urgently.

“I don’t know what the solution is I don’t know what the all the answers are but I’m just highlighting for you what you already know but in the hearing of those who are in authority to say ‘can we do something about this?’”

Skelton-Cline concluded that it is becoming “harder and harder to live in these Virgin Islands due to the cost of living.”

34 Responses to “‘Something needs to be done about this fuel surcharge!’- Shaina M. Smith-Archer”

  • The watchdog (09/05/2022, 13:24) Like (41) Dislike (12) Reply
    We still not voting for her
    • Something needs to be done (09/05/2022, 14:01) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      ... and somebody needs to identify what that something is, and then somebody needs to do that something!
    • @The Watchdog (09/05/2022, 14:50) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      I am with you on this one!
    • Tango (09/05/2022, 15:38) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      She need to talk about what she know of which is very little.
  • its talking season (09/05/2022, 13:30) Like (27) Dislike (3) Reply
    Everybody coming out of their shells now
  • me nah vote 4 she buddy (09/05/2022, 13:34) Like (27) Dislike (4) Reply
    she coud run til she sht...she doh pass people like she dont know um
    • Damaged ego (09/05/2022, 15:45) Like (9) Dislike (9) Reply
      So her qualifications or lack thereof doesn’t matter? You decide who controls the government based on who hails you? You definitely deserve what is coming next, troglodyte.
  • Outta Control (09/05/2022, 13:41) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    It’s indeed insane how high the fuel ss is! Come on BVIEC, you can do better! Half of the bill is fuel ss, You are killing us!!
    $300+ and we haven’t even used our AC!! (We have a Washer & dryer)
    • @Outta Control (09/05/2022, 14:49) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      They need to demonstrate about that! Hope the Minister of Works address this Issue.
    • @Outta Control (09/05/2022, 15:58) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
      I suggest you don't use the dryer as that is the household appliance that uses the most power..... Do the old fashioned thing - put your washing on a clothes line!
      • @@ outta control (09/05/2022, 17:15) Like (2) Dislike (21) Reply
        Put your washing on a clothes line? All that does is make the place look more ghetto.
  • thomas (09/05/2022, 13:52) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Exactly!

    If not, I might as well just switch to solar! Nonsense
    • LCS (09/05/2022, 14:56) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      That is a very good idea. They will be 0 duty, you will be caring for the environment and you will be saving money!!! Think about it seriously.
  • theif (09/05/2022, 13:52) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    An Audit should run in bviec to
    • lol (09/05/2022, 15:38) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      They are audited every year darling. So yes the Audits will continue.
  • Wrong (09/05/2022, 14:13) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Some thing is definitely wrong. One you signed a contract for fiel at a certain price but no body dont want to loose so they putting it on the consumers. High way robbery on the people of this territory. Fix it
  • ?? (09/05/2022, 14:25) Like (11) Dislike (10) Reply
    Arent we paying double ar the gas pump and supermarkets also??? You can control the amount of electricity you use Shana turn off the damn lights when you ain't using it cut back on your usage. If you dont want to pay just dont use the darn electricity. You and Claude looking attention at any cost. If you really want answers and care about the people why dont you all Bro the educated thing and ask the relevant persons the questions. Set of hot air people just want to be feeding on the emotioba of the people at time. Neither you nor claude have any blasted sense or integrity...struppssss
  • lodger (09/05/2022, 14:36) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    The public continue to be confused about the fuel surcharge, as do would be politicians. The surcharge is a device to hide the rising cost of fuel to the supplier. The basic unit charge has not been changed for donkeys years, but supply prices have continued to increase along with world trends. How do you expect BVIEC to buy fuel, pay staff, build and rebuild the infrastructure, if they dont generate enough income? BVIEC are a statuary body but I bet they have been influenced by politicians over the years, in an attempt to make it appear that the surcharge is the cause of the problem.
    • ?? (09/05/2022, 14:51) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
      So Shana I have a question. You live west end does it cost you the same money to fill up you gas tank??? We going to blame the government for every single thing now. Like I keep saying fuel increase surcharge is global. You all set of entitled people....hahaha
      • BVI A DOT (09/05/2022, 16:05) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
        This is the beginning. You’ll be in shock when you SEE (not some silly talk) the global agenda, “We the People” must endure. Are you all part of the people or those who want to enslave the world. Gas, food shortage, joblessness is their game. This is nothing yet. Please wake up. The world needs you. God needs to to be his earth warrior. Cut back and pray pray. The earthquake??? Very important signal? It was manufactured for a reason. Read, research, the BVI is a dot in our war with God. Get on board PLEASE!!!!!
    • Dreamer (09/05/2022, 14:55) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      I suppose that in the BVIs is is unreasonable to expect a utility company to run its business in an appropriate manner. You know, things like buying fuel futures when prices are low (which can avoid surcharges), improving its efficiency or conducting preventive maintenance work. Most mismanaged businesses are inefficient. Not much evidence in the record to show much effort is spent trying to run things better at BVIEC.
      • lodger (09/05/2022, 22:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Dreamer, you cant have been here long. For all its few faults, BVIEC is the best run service we have, along with social security.
        • Dreamer (10/05/2022, 08:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          Hey lodger: 38 years and counting. Your comment that the BVIEC is the best run service we have is almost as funny as the retort some years ago when the premier announced 50% off for the month of December as a Xmas bonus. Some wag’s comment on that was BVIEC is always 50% off. I’ve had to replace numerous electronics (ovens, washing machines, TVs etc.) because of spikes in current. Sure, surge protectors help to an extent, but the only reason to have them is because of poor generation.
          Not sure why you think SS is the other best run service in the BVIs. If so, for how long, given all the money others have been borrowing?
  • See (09/05/2022, 14:41) Like (16) Dislike (15) Reply
    Thank Joe Biden for shutting down the US production of oil and clean natural gas to appease the radical left agenda . Everything just got more expensive including moving things from point A to point B . We are only seeing the beginning of this catastrophe .
  • LCS (09/05/2022, 14:57) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    The end of your woes will be Solar Panels!!! Don't wait any longer.
  • Concerned (09/05/2022, 16:11) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    She complaining about a $35 hike mine went from $123.00 in Jan and April bill was $222. My usage has not changed but $100 more?. Ridiculous. I guess that is 1 less night I will go out to eat. It trikles down......
  • Stealth (09/05/2022, 17:05) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Shaina is an engineer(must have taken engineering econ in college) and a bright lady and knows oil is a high demand global commodity driven by supply and demand. Russia is a major oil supplier and the Russian-Ukraine debacle is adversely affecting the supply and the increasing price of oil. Keeping supply low high demand drives prices up. OPEC and other oil suppliers show little interest in boosting supply; it helps their bottom, making for loss profitably when oil tanked several years ago.

    What is the double charge? Explain. Yes, the rising cost of fuel is placing hardships on consumers, especially those at the lower end of economic ladder. However, the BVIEC is a utility and passes its operating cost(labour, material, operating, overhead, recapitalization) on to consumers. Solutions: consumers electricity use conversation, BVIEC absorbing the fuel cost increases, government subsidizing electricity, government instituting a temporary universal cost of living allocation. I hear the howls of socialism.
    • Pooonie (09/05/2022, 21:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      It's so simple,it is called the law of supply and demand .Mrs Smith Archer, I cannot believe you have never heard of demand and supply .
  • Homeowner (09/05/2022, 17:19) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    I’m switching to solar. I’m not putting up any clothes line on my property.
  • question (09/05/2022, 17:23) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    we import oil and BURN it to generate electric? Whose family was it gets a cent for every dollar improted/??.
  • West side (09/05/2022, 21:09) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply

    Her 5 mins on air but we not putting her in office we will rather foy

  • Hmm (09/05/2022, 21:53) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    on a positive note this is serious, these fuel surcharges is ridiculous. every month the bill just keep going up.
  • Agree (10/05/2022, 09:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Surcharge more then base price .... I thought I saw in news that fuel tax and been reduced, so why the price keep climbing.
  • Hmm (10/05/2022, 10:27) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Whenever DElta has the contract to supply the corporation with fuel the bills are outrageous. When shell had the contract it wasnt so bad.


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