Premier Andrew Fahie has exercised his executive power to exempt the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) from the recently implemented increased wharfage fees, following backlash from many residents.
This means that residents will no longer have to incur an increase in their electricity bill.
This is according to a media release from the BVIEC on Wednesday May 19, which stated that following their Tuesday announcement of an increase in electricity bills from May 2021 for all residents, negotiations between the Premier and the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) for an exemption were had.
“The BVIEC has been working assiduously with the Premier of the Virgin Islands and BVI Ports Authority to progress an exemption from the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (Amendment) Regulations, 2021,” the BVIEC stated.
“Great progress has been made as the Premier in his exercise of powers has advised that BVIEC will be exempted effective immediately from this Regulation. As such, customers’ June bills will reflect a reversal of this wharfage fee,” the BVIEC added.
What were these fees?
The recent amendment to the BVIPA regulations which came into effect from April 15, 2021, stated that wharfage will be charged on petroleum products which are discharged through ships pipeline direct to the private facility of cargo owners.
The amendment added that a fee of $0.10 per gallon will be charged “on petroleum products discharged through ships pipeline direct to the private facility of cargo owners.”
