Barbadians can expect higher electricity bills after the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) approved an application by the Barbados Light & Power Company Ltd (BLPC) to recover the costs of temporary rental generators through the Fuel Clause Adjustment (FCA).

The decision, “with immediate effect”, was handed down last night by FTC chairman Donley Carrington following a five-hour virtual hearing and allows BLPC to recover the rental and operating costs associated with six megawatts of additional temporary generation and extends approval for the company’s existing 11 megawatts of temporary rental generation from end of this month through to December 31, 2027.

The FTC is the statutory body responsible for regulating utility services in Barbados and has the authority to approve, reject or modify applications made by utility providers, including requests that could affect the rates ultimately paid by consumers.