B.E.L. Intends to Invest in Renewable Energy

John Avery

Over the next five years, B.E.L. plans to invest almost three hundred million dollars in the national electricity grid to connect new in-country renewable sources of energy, introduce smart grid technologies in order to improve the reliability, quality and efficiency of service to customers.  It is an eighty percent increase in capital expenditures compared to the investments made in the existing full tariff period ending in June.  Chairman John Avery of the Public Utilities Commission explains.

John Avery, Chairman, Public Utilities Commission

“B.E.L. had asked for some two hundred and eighty-three million dollars in investment over the period.  We did not, I will not say we did not approve but we did not consider every single one of those investments during this FTRP.  These are for future events and the commission felt that we needed a better explanation from B.E.L. before we considered some of these investments.  And so, whilst those weren’t included in what we approved in this FTRP, we’re not saying that they’re off the table completely, we just need more information before we give them due consideration.  These were mostly in relation to the addition of solar generation.  B.E.L. has indicated to us that it will hire a consultant to advise it on the take-up of solar generation and so we felt that we shouldn’t do anything concrete until we have the benefit of that consultant’s report.”