The Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) are adding their voices to a growing number of Barbadians who are incensed about the Barbados Light and Company’s (BL&P) proposed rate increase in electricity cost.In fact, the BCEN, which is headed by interim Executive Director Maureen Holder, criticised as “unconscionable” and “unacceptable” for the EMERA-owned BL&P company to be asking for a rate increase “at a time when many Barbadians are facing hardship and all manner of dire economic and financial circumstances”. While the leader of the DLP, Dr. Ronnie Yearwood, condemned the move as “oppressive” and charged that both the FTC and the Minister of Energy have “undoubtedly failed everyone who lives and works in this country”.Last week the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) announced it had granted the BL&P’s request for an interim rate increase, but the regulatory body only granted 50 per cent of what the utility company had requested. This decision was made after the FTC began hearings on the matter this past July. The FTC’s decision does not sit well with the BCEN which, via a statement released today, took issue with how the matter concerning the application for a rate increase by the island’s main electricity supplier, has been approached.
