T&TEC & WASA rate increase coming?

[shake d livin wake d dead]

And the beauty of it this time, is a double whammy. Iirc he say super will increase by an additional $1.25, diesel by a dollar, can't recall how much premium increasing by.

Expect steep and sudden price increases, especially for your grocery bills.

Gr8 is d pee-on-em

That cng conversion looking more appealing now

[death365]

Am where u get this info? Sooner rather than later.... the middle class will be marginalized.

And the beauty of it this time, is a double whammy. Iirc he say super will increase by an additional $1.25, diesel by a dollar, can't recall how much premium increasing by.

Expect steep and sudden price increases, especially for your grocery bills.

Gr8 is d pee-on-em

[bluefete]

This was the "rumour" that he was going to raise prices in the budget but something went awry.

I think even Duane referenced it.

Am where u get this info? Sooner rather than later.... the middle class will be marginalized.

And the beauty of it this time, is a double whammy. Iirc he say super will increase by an additional $1.25, diesel by a dollar, can't recall how much premium increasing by.

Expect steep and sudden price increases, especially for your grocery bills.

Gr8 is d pee-on-em

[88sins]

This was the "rumour" that he was going to raise prices in the budget but something went awry.

I think even Duane referenced it.

Am where u get this info? Sooner rather than later.... the middle class will be marginalized.

And the beauty of it this time, is a double whammy. Iirc he say super will increase by an additional $1.25, diesel by a dollar, can't recall how much premium increasing by.

Expect steep and sudden price increases, especially for your grocery bills.

Gr8 is d pee-on-em

Whether he say fuel costs increasing or not, it doesn't matter, these ppl known for saying one thing and doing something entirely opposite.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

This was the "rumour" that he was going to raise prices in the budget but something went awry.

I think even Duane referenced it.

Am where u get this info? Sooner rather than later.... the middle class will be marginalized.

And the beauty of it this time, is a double whammy. Iirc he say super will increase by an additional $1.25, diesel by a dollar, can't recall how much premium increasing by.

Expect steep and sudden price increases, especially for your grocery bills.

Gr8 is d pee-on-em

Whether he say fuel costs increasing or not, it doesn't matter, these ppl known for saying one thing and doing something entirely opposite.

Raising gas next year, plus adding property tax might be a lil stiff as election is in 25. Then again them doh business!

[MaxPower]

as the guyanese does say

"tek buddy tek buddy tek buddy tek buddy"

Nah take bull.

Trinis vote for dat

Yep, Trinis love it so.

They too damn dotish it good for them.

[88sins]

This was the "rumour" that he was going to raise prices in the budget but something went awry.

I think even Duane referenced it.

Am where u get this info? Sooner rather than later.... the middle class will be marginalized.

And the beauty of it this time, is a double whammy. Iirc he say super will increase by an additional $1.25, diesel by a dollar, can't recall how much premium increasing by.

Expect steep and sudden price increases, especially for your grocery bills.

Gr8 is d pee-on-em

Whether he say fuel costs increasing or not, it doesn't matter, these ppl known for saying one thing and doing something entirely opposite.

Raising gas next year, plus adding property tax might be a lil stiff as election is in 25. Then again them doh business!

u forgot about pension age going up.
u very correct tho, dem eh bidness bout nuttn and nobody

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Its now up to the cabinet to decide when and by how much more we paying!

[pugboy]

when he planning to hit them 1% casinos with proper taxation ?
asking for a friend

[88sins]

when he planning to hit them 1% casinos with proper taxation ?
asking for a friend

February 32nd, 7992

[pugboy]

since manning days they promising to do that

when he planning to hit them 1% casinos with proper taxation ?
asking for a friend

February 32nd, 7992

[maj. tom]

West Trinidad supermarket faces 58.24% electricity hike

https://www.guardian.co.tt/business/west-trinidad-supermarket-faces-5824-electricity-hike-6.2.1847839.c14da6a9a9

With the Supermarket Association of T&T (SATT) continuing to express concern about the impact of proposed higher electricity rates on its members across the country, the Business Guardian has found that one large supermarket in west Trinidad faces a 58.24 per cent increase in their bill.

According to the supermarket’s August bill from the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), its consumption of electricity was 77,660 kilowatt hours (kWh) and the demand charge was 155.6.

The supermarket’s bill was sent to the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) and analysed by officials there. The RIC said that even though the supermarket was a commercial enterprise, its usage of electricity, at 77,660 kWh, placed it in the category of an industrial customer.

The supermarket’s August bill of $26,138.60, comprised a consumption charge of $15,454.34, a demand charge of $7,780 and Value-Added Tax at 12.5 per cent equalling $2,904.293.

Based on the RIC’s analysis, if the proposed electricity rate hike is approved by the Cabinet, the supermarket in western Trinidad would pay a monthly bill of $41,362.28, if it consumed the same amount of electricity. That would be an increase of $15,223.65 a month or 58.24 per cent.

In a statement to the Business Guardian, SATT said it expects that there would be a sharp rise in supermarkets’ electricity bill, which would impact operating costs and eventually prices.

According to the information provided by SATT, a typical supermarket retail establishment presently has a bi-monthly billing cycle of TT$30,000.

A supermarket owner, who asked not to be named, told the Business Guardian that on average, smaller sized supermarkets spend five per cent of their revenues on their electricity bill.

SATT also said that given that the arrangements are still being worked out for commercial customers, it is difficult to estimate where the monthly billing will fall, but it will probably be in the range of TT$20,000 to TT$25,000 per month.

“Some major points to take into consideration: if the new rate is accepted, then price pressures will be experienced; there is also the potential for a higher incidence of pilferage as this is already high and the population is experiencing price pressures from the cost of living,” SATT said in its statement.

SATT even foresees a negative social implications.

“It may also affect imports of cold foods on a whole. As it may be too expensive to sell and will also be subjected to theft due to its increased price. This would further slow down sales of these specific items until we are unable to bring them in at a reasonable cost, which will slow down imports.

“Places that use heavy electricity—large manufacturing operations, meat facilities, ice cream, vegetable storages—all will be affected. Larger establishments that require air conditioning for operations due to high heat and also electricity for large cold storages, even shelf cold storage will definitely be subjected to increases.”

SATT also spoke about how supermarkets can be expected to adjust to a higher electricity bill as they seek to conserve electricity.

“Groceries that use air conditioning—can be adjusted by using less air conditioning but the impact will be an unpleasant heatbox shopping experiences. Also places like malls that use electricity to keep places cool will also be subjected to increases. It can come from mall rent increases to cater for the differences in high costs of electricity operations. In addition, even though LED lighting is lower voltage there is more of it being used, more security cameras and equipment installed and in use, higher temperatures means the demand on air conditioning.”

There is no way that this extra cost will not be passed onto the consumer. Gas pumps also run on electricity.

[pugboy]

massy is known for having a lot of open air horizontal freezers, those are terribly inefficient

[AlphaMan]

We living in the end of times

[The_Honourable]

Public Utilities Minister: No electricity hike until 2024

Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales says the proposed increase in the electricity rate will not take place this year.

“Before T&TEC implements the rate as proposed and approved by the RIC (Regulated Industries Commission), from a policy perspective, the matter is placed before the Cabinet so that T&TEC, being an agency that belongs to to citizens of TT, will now have the blessing of the Cabinet before the rates are implemented in 2024 as the case may be.”

He was speaking during an interview with Catholic News TV’s Altos programme on Friday.

Gonzales said the matter was referred to the Finance and General Purpose Committee, a sub-committee of Cabinet, to determine the financial implications on domestic, commercial and industrial customers a well as T&TEC.

He said his ministry was gathering all the relevant information to put before the committee. Also, T&TEC had a lot of internal work to do on its systems and had to give a 21-day notice before the rate increase was implemented so it would not occur before the end of 2023.

He said even with the proposed rate increase, TT would still have the lowest electricity rates in the Caribbean second to Suriname.

He added that government spent over $70 million annually on the electricity rebate policy and the electricity bills of vulnerable citizens were subsidised under the utility assistance programme.

Also, T&TEC did not pay NGC for the gas used to generate electricity, which cost the government $5 billion. He said government would have to restructure the subsistence systems and make a final recommendation under the new monthly billing system.

https://newsday.co.tt/2023/11/12/public ... ntil-2024/

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Could be january as expected or after the mid year review

[death365]

I'm confident it's 1.1.24

Could be january as expected or after the mid year review

[Habit7]

The high cost of T&T’s subsidised electricity
by

Ryan Bachoo

20240215


“We enjoy the cheapest rates in the Caribbean and perhaps among the cheapest in the world because they’re heavily subsidised. We don’t really pay the true market price of electricity generated.”

Trinidad and Tobago’s 1.4 million citizens are about to learn how decades of subsidised electric rates are going to cost them dearly. For decades, the twin-island republic’s once abundant supply of natural gas has been used to generate electricity for residential, business and industrial customers at far below market prices.

Beginning in the 1970’s, successive governments discounted Trinidad’s electricity costs to everyone. It proved incredibly popular among voters. Today, it is being sold to residential customers at a mere US$0.05 per kWh. That lowest tier price is among the cheapest rates in the world.

There have been unwanted consequences as the subsidies distorted the markets. Per capita consumption is the highest in the Caribbean. Investments in alternative energy sources are nearly non-existent. The politician,s who must raise rates in recognition of waning supplies of natural gas, are confronting difficult choices which will undoubtedly impact everyone. Even if they don’t get a higher electric bill at home, prices for commodities like food, clothing, appliances and electronics could increase as retail businesses face higher overhead costs.

It will fall on the politicians to try to soften the blows, adjust pricing tiers to protect those least able to afford it. They may make adjustments to assist industries powering the economy. How all of that will be balanced, who will pay the most and other questions have yet to be answered. Politicians and stakeholders say what is clear is that change and higher prices lie ahead.

There are few rivals to such generous electricity rates in this part of the world. The cost only increases as you go up the Caribbean chain. St Kitts and Nevis pays five times more than Trinidad and Tobago while Antigua and Barbuda pays more than seven times that rate. Dr Curtis Boodoo, a consulting engineer on the United Nations Development Programme’s Community Solar Project, said, “When you look at the Gulf states, oil and gas producers with relatively low populations, it is perhaps better to compare our electricity rates with them.” [In Saudi Arabia, according to Global Petrol Prices, households pay $US0.048 kWh. Qatar is slightly lower at $US0.032.]

Trinidad and Tobago’s low rates aren’t magic. Brendon James, a sustainable energy and risk management professional,

who has worked in the energy industry for more than two decades, says it’s a confidential arrangement between the National Gas Company (NGC) and T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC). That arrangement is defined by how much the government is willing to discount its natural gas holdings.

Low rates encourage

increased consumption

For years, energy experts and the government’s own analysts have warned low electricity rates were encouraging consumers to conserve less and, in effect, keep the lights on. The US Energy Information Administration statistics show Trinidad and Tobago residents consume multiple times more electricity than their Caribbean counterparts.

While some countries are speaking about climate change and an increase in temperatures in the Caribbean, data shows Trinidad and Tobago residents’ consumption of electricity continues to increase. The residential usage of electricity in the twin-island state in 2010 stood at 28.7 per cent. By 2021, that figure had jumped to almost 40 per cent. As a heatwave gripped the country in September, T&TEC recorded a new record in demand for electricity.

At the same time, industrial use of electricity has decreased from 60 per cent to 48 per cent between 2010 and 2021 according to Energy Chamber statistics.

Last year, Trinidad and Tobago consumed 107,269 kWh per capita, according to a study done by the US Energy Information Administration. The EIA says Jamaica with a population of 2.8 million people, consumed an average of 12,236 kWh per capita in 2021. In the same year, Barbados consumed 23,026 kWh per capita.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Energy Chamber T&T, Dr Thackwray Driver, has been vocal on the need for citizens to pay a fairer price for the electricity they consume.
“There is no reason why the state should subsidise somebody to have a centralised air conditioning, swimming pool pumps. There are people in Trinidad who actually have electric heaters for their swimming pools. Why should the state be subsidising someone who has an electric heater for their swimming pool? If they want to have it, it’s fine but they should pay the full cost of the electricity for something like that,” Driver said.

Subsidies undermine alternative energy

The government of T&T has long been aware of the economic, social and environmental advantages of a transition to alternative energy. The Solar House, built eight years ago on the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Point Lisas campus, still stands as a prototype. But the reality is that with the historic availability of natural gas there’s been little or no investment into the residential solar market.

United Nations Development Programme consulting engineer, Dr Curtis Boodoo, who remains engaged with the Solar House project, acknowledges the country’s entire energy transition has failed to materialise.

The necessary policy changes have not been implemented. In April last year, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley broke ground for the construction of a utility-scale solar plant at Brechin Castle making a commitment that changes to regulations would be introduced within months but it is yet to happen.

“Our view would be that, no, we haven’t moved fast enough in this direction. There are some things that are putting us on the right pathway but we’ve got to move a lot faster. We have this large investment solar project from BP and Shell in Point Lisas, Brechin Castle and the one in Orange Grove so there are two in execution,” said Driver. (Both are expected to be operational in late 2024).

Dr Driver went on to say “we need to move much faster but to do that we need to get the regulations amended.” It’s a common chorus from industry experts.

Getting the regulations amended, says Driver, it will give a clear way for the private sector and individual households to put solar panels in place and have a system where their electricity bill will be offset.

“At the grassroots level where citizens can participate in this is really what is needed now to empower the citizen to contribute to our own Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). To do that, just like the large-scale investment, we need a proper enabling environment. One critical part of that enabling environment is the feed-in tariff policy.” With such a policy, ordinary citizens can install solar panels and generate electricity. Any excess could be sold back to the utility.

Dr Boodoo points out it requires a US$430 licensing fee that can take more than nine months to acquire. He says the current version of the renewable energy license form requires the signature of the Minister of Public Utilities.

“The internal processes that are currently in place around solar energy, they are serving as a barrier to the public in its adoption,” Dr Boodoo said. He further pointed to the conflict of a utility company such as T&TEC being the gatekeeper to enable the use of renewable energy. “It’s natural for the utility not to encourage the adoption of renewable energy because if people generate their electricity at home then they’re not paying for that electricity.”

Boodoo says it is natural for a body like T&TEC not to encourage the adoption of renewable energy.

It is why Dr Boodoo believes there needs to be “institutional change” in the granting of renewable energy licenses and its adoption. He says instead of the Ministry of Public Utilities, it should be led by the Ministry of Energy, which he believes is “progressive” towards more greener forms of energy.

Over the last decade, the Ministry of Energy has announced a number of fiscal incentives to encourage the move towards renewable energy. For instance, import duty exemptions were granted for machinery, equipment materials and parts for the manufacture or assembly of solar water heaters. Also, 0-rated VAT was granted for solar water heaters, solar PV panels and wind turbines.

However, Kumarsingh is adamant very little will come of the incentives unless much of the red tape is cut out.

“Fiscal investments wouldn’t mean anything unless the enabling environment is there. You can have all of the amount of money be given to you through grants and loans and so on, it would mean nothing if you can’t implement the actions that it is meant to achieve. It’s about getting the first step correct that will facilitate the actions that are needed,” said Kumarsingh.

He has also long advocated for the feed-in tariff policy to be implemented allowing consumers to sell excess back to the utility. Kumarsingh said: “What that will do, basically, is buffer the impacts of any rate increase.”

Power, pain and politics

The key question for Trinidad and Tobago’s citizens is not whether their electricity rates are going up. The questions are “When?” and “By How Much?”

So-called “Draft” rate structures have been floated since late in 2022 and raised eyebrows when they were reported in the media. In the first year alone, residential customers could see a 20 to 33 per cent rate hike depending on their kWh consumption. Further incremental increases would be imposed over a five-year span.

Business and industry could face a 68.5 per cent rate hike in the first year alone.

Those steep hikes mean cost increases for food and other essentials as businesses are forced to pass on their operating expenses to consumers.

It comes as no surprise that all of Trinidad and Tobago’s political parties that bestowed the gift of subsidies on their electorates are now timid about announcing the actual end to them. The optics are terrible. It’s as if Santa Claus will be visiting every household to make the children pay for the presents of Christmas past.

A review of the country’s rates has been completed and has been submitted to Cabinet. Between six and eight per cent of the country’s natural gas supply is used for electricity consumption, a resource that industry experts believe is better directed to the petrochemical sector and gas export markets.

“It has been a long time coming. A number of key stakeholders and global events have assembled for us to be ready to make some severe and significant decisions in the energy sector,” said Boodoo.

Minister of Public Utilities, Marvin Gonzales, confirmed the price hike recommendation on a radio programme. He told a morning radio talk show, “As Minister of Public Utilities I can tell you from what I have seen, there will be an increase in rates. There will be a new rate structure. I suspect it could be any time.”

Residents of Trinidad and Tobago seem ready for the transition. A UNDP Public Awareness Survey on Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Energy Pricing last year showed 81 per cent of people surveyed say they are interested in installing solar panels in their homes.

For a country that has been in the oil and gas business for more than a century, T&T is at another energy crossroads when it comes to energy.

Boodoo recalled, “In the early days of the natural gas sector [the 1970’s] when Professor Ken Julien would have led that, somebody my age or a lot of younger persons would be led to believe that natural gas was the obvious choice but if you listen to Professor Julien, there was some resistance. I see parallels in the energy transition now. We are now at that stage where we need to take that risk and somebody has to make the decision and take the risk.”

The political leadership is yet to offer a detailed roadmap for the energy transition. How will they handle the risks? How much are they prepared to invest in alternative energy? How will they engage international agencies such the UN and the World Bank to expand the potential of solar and wind? The failures of the past are clear. What Trinidad and Tobago citizens want now is a vision for their future.

https://www.guardian.co.tt/business/the ... 1f52e92d94

[The_Honourable]

Now how much the state owes T&TEC?

1.4 billion?

Pay yuh debts first and then talk to the public about rate increase.

btw... general elections about 1 1/2 years away? around August 2025? It will be harder for the government to increase T&TEC and WASA rates each passing month as we get nearer to elections. Now if PNM wins in 2025, they will implement rate increases for sure even though the government themselves are the biggest culprit for not paying their bills.

[Habit7]

Now how much the state owes T&TEC?

1.4 billion?

Pay yuh debts first and then talk to the public about rate increase.

btw... general elections about 1 1/2 years away? around August 2025? It will be harder for the government to increase T&TEC and WASA rates each passing month as we get nearer to elections. Now if PNM wins in 2025, they will implement rate increases for sure even though the government themselves are the biggest culprit for not paying their bills.

T&TEC has no large debt earning interest. It is the govt owing the government. Even if the debt is written off tomorrow you will still have a utility company receiving billions in subsidy and no increase in tariffs in like 15yrs. We are running out of natural gas while Trinis use more electricity per capita than everyone else in the Caribbean.

This is more the PNM/UNC, our electricity tariffs are unsustainable and will have to adjust no matter who is in govt.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

I like how pnmites does spin the "all over the wurl" narratives, just to try and support their agenda

[wing]

I fed up telling him that this is a pro UNC and anti PNM forum. Doesn't he realize that people rather spend money on all kinds of vice and ole noise. Anything he says that isn't anti PNM no matter what the merit, means that he is automatically a PNM.

[VexXx Dogg]

I fed up telling him that this is a pro UNC and anti PNM forum. Doesn't he realize that people rather spend money on all kinds of vice and ole noise. Anything he says that isn't anti PNM no matter what the merit, means that he is automatically a PNM.

Agreed.
Especially the last part

[Habit7]

I like how pnmites does spin the "all over the wurl" narratives, just to try and support their agenda

Kinda like how we benchmark T&T’s murder and serious crime rate against “all over the wurl.”

Otherwise who is to say 42 murders per 100,000 is a baseline of a safe and tranquil country?

[shake d livin wake d dead]

I like how pnmites does spin the "all over the wurl" narratives, just to try and support their agenda

Kinda like how we benchmark T&T’s murder and serious crime rate against “all over the wurl.”

Otherwise who is to say 42 murders per 100,000 is a baseline of a safe and tranquil country?

Take up your beef with world statisticians and other media houses. Stats are there to show that once the pee on dem in power, we always looking break Lara records.

Once things bad down here....the quickest thing is "all over the wurl" it happening, like that supposed to make us feel better.

Just now the minister of education would say, school violence is all over the wurl so we should get used to it here to.

[Habit7]

I like how pnmites does spin the "all over the wurl" narratives, just to try and support their agenda

Kinda like how we benchmark T&T’s murder and serious crime rate against “all over the wurl.”

Otherwise who is to say 42 murders per 100,000 is a baseline of a safe and tranquil country?

Take up your beef with world statisticians and other media houses. Stats are there to show that once the pee on dem in power, we always looking break Lara records.

Once things bad down here....the quickest thing is "all over the wurl" it happening, like that supposed to make us feel better.

Just now the minister of education would say, school violence is all over the wurl so we should get used to it here to.

I can’t help your small-mindedness. If T&T’s electricity is produced by natural gas. And natural gas is also our main energy product. And our reserves are decreasing why global demand is increasing, then any logical person must start making plans to secure our future energy production before it runs out.

Plus if we are to diversify into renewable energy which would need large capital investment the money has to come from somewhere.

This is not a PNM or UNC problem this is a ticking time bomb any govt has to face. Keeping the tariff the same for 15yrs by growing the subsidy all while people are not being efficient with their use, would only mean that we are using up natural gas today, not sending it to downstream industries to make more money, and when it is done, prepare for 2000% increase in tariff instead of the slow increases we should be doing now.

Meanwhile T&T is loosing competitiveness to our neighbours who are investing in renewables and reducing household usage because there are neanderthals in T&T who don’t want to hear about “all over the world.” This issue T&T is facing is the same as other countries ALL AROUND THE WORLD and you have to be a stark raving idiot to leave it as it is because you are only focused on the here and now.

[The_Honourable]

Monah... the state pay their 1.4 billion bill?

All that spin talk about our caribbean neighbours and "all over the wurl", you skirting the REAL issue which is that T&TEC is in deep debt because the state refuse to pay their electricity bills.

I agree with subsidy reduction and adjusting rates to suit. The problem is what the government is attempting to do... place the burden on customers to bail out T&TEC.

Now if the state pay off the 1.4 billion debt, and T&TEC goes into debt recovery against remaining delinquent customers, THEN the public would buy into subsidy reduction and upward rate adjustments which would be much more measured and not hurt the public, especially those in the lower rung of society.

If the new rates goes into effect, the state more than likely will continue being delinquent where some years from now, you will come on tuner again to spin talk about our caribbean neighbors and "all over the wurl" to justify increasing rates further.

[adnj]

But when the state pays any debts, is it not the citizen of the state that is actually paying the debt? Hmm.

[assassin]

The article presents information that our electricity price is US 0.05 and it is very low compared to the rest of the Caribbean

But we produce natural gas. We are still higher price than other larger oil and gas producers

It is stated that household consumption has increased. Total consumption is not presented though. And it is noted that industrial consumption has decreased.

Yes we have limited reserves but they are not going to be exhausted in the near term. There is more than adequate time to implement alternative energy generation before removing subsidies

Also, a rate increase would be easier to bear if it was accompanied by some tangible benefit. More reliable supply upgrades or improved Street lighting or the like

[adnj]

[quote="assassin"]The article presents information that our electricity price is US 0.05 and it is very low compared to the rest of the Caribbean

But we produce natural gas. [b]We are still higher price than other larger oil and gas producers[/b]

It is stated that household consumption has increased. Total consumption is not presented though. And it is noted that industrial consumption has decreased.

Yes we have limited reserves but they are not going to be exhausted in the near term. There is more than adequate time to implement alternative energy generation before removing subsidies

Also, a rate increase would be easier to bear if it was accompanied by some tangible benefit. More reliable supply upgrades or improved Street lighting or the like[/quote]

Maybe not. Venezuela charges 9¢/kwh but Qatar is cheaper (according to available data).

[img]https://i.imgur.com/GWpa33L.png[/img]