BEL and P.U.C. in court for pre-trial directions

And in the court of Justice Minett Hafiz, this morning, attorneys appeared on behalf of the Belize Electricity Limited and the Public Utilities Commission. The matter was merely to settle preliminary directions that needed to be determined before the actual trial takes place. B.E.L. filed an affidavit and questions dealing with the PUC’s independent expert that had to be addressed before the trial starts early next year. B.E.L. is going to court over the PUC’s decision to reject its application for rate increases. There have not been good relations between the utility company and the regulator. In December the Commission opined that since June of 2008 B.E.L. had embarked on a negative campaign seemingly designed to create a perception of instability and to present itself to be in severe financial crisis that threatens its ability to survive and to provide services. The electricity company called these statements disturbing and appalling. Lynn Young, B.E.L.’s CEO told this station on Tuesday that there has been no sit down with the PUC for a year and that everything is taken to court for settlement.