Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas has signalled that Barbuda’s special electricity tariff could be reviewed as APUA prepares to expand the island’s power system to meet growing demand.

Nicholas said Barbudans have historically benefited from a different tariff regime, but the arrangement is not equitable to consumers in Antigua.

“The way that the tariffs work in Barbuda is a little different to Antigua,” Nicholas said. “It’s not equitable as far as consumers here in Antigua are concerned.”

The minister said he intends to raise the matter at the Cabinet level and hold discussions with the Barbuda Council and residents before any changes are made.

Nicholas did not propose a timetable for reviewing the tariff and stressed that the process would require consultation.

“It may be at that stage that we may have to have a conversation with our residents on Barbuda and with the council on Barbuda in terms of bringing some equity to the way we deal with the energy situation on Barbuda,” he said.

Nicholas described the current arrangement as “anachronistic” but said Barbuda’s circumstances differ from those in Antigua.

APUA Electricity Business Unit Manager Andre Mathias said providing electricity in Barbuda can be more expensive because most equipment and supplies arrive in Antigua before being shipped to the sister island. Barbuda also uses diesel, which is more expensive than the heavy fuel oil used by some generating units in Antigua.

Barbuda’s hybrid electricity facility includes a 741-kilowatt solar system and an 800-kilowatt-hour battery system.

Mathias said Barbuda’s electricity demand was just over half a megawatt when the system was installed. At that level, the solar panels and batteries allowed the diesel generators to be turned off during the day.

The island’s demand has since grown to more than 800 kilowatts, making it more difficult for the existing renewable energy system to carry the daytime load.

“The load has now grown to over 800 kilowatts,” Mathias said. “So it’s a little more difficult.”

Nicholas said APUA will have to expand its utility services in Barbuda as the island undergoes residential development under new land tenure arrangements.

He said the authority is receiving support through the International Solar Alliance to expand Barbuda’s renewable energy facility.

“We’re going to have to expand, and we’re going to have to expand with a hybrid arrangement,” Nicholas said. “It works, and we want to have more of it, not less of it.”

The minister said Barbuda’s main transmission line into Codrington has also been placed underground to reduce the risk of widespread damage during hurricanes. He said underground infrastructure represents APUA’s long-term direction for improving the resilience of the electricity grid.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Barbuda’s Special Electricity Tariff Could Be Reviewed.