Grand Bahama Consumers Upset Over Proposed Rate Hike In Electricity

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GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – The Grand Bahama Power Company is hoping to raise rates, leaving many customers upset with the proposed hike. We spoke with a few of them today.

Residents in Freeport are reacting today to the Grand Bahama Power Company’s announcement of a proposed rate hike, now under review by the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

These Grand Bahama customers say it’s already hard enough keeping up with current rates.

A statement from the Ministry for Grand Bahama says they do not support the base rate increase, calling the proposal “wholly ill-conceived, badly timed” and claims it “appears to prioritize profit over the well-being of the community.”

Former Minister of Housing and National Insurance Kenneth Russell also weighed in on the proposed increase.

At the rate that we are going, this increase will only add to the existing burden of power costs,” Russell stated. “I would like to believe that there are better solutions to address the challenges faced by both the power company and its customers.”

For educator Marcia Gray, the 6.3% increase is just too high.

Toni Hudson-Bannister says one of the main issues with the rate hike is the quality of service.

“As a consumer, we expect reliable service,” Hudson-Bannister remarked. “We cannot talk about an increase without addressing the power outages.”

The Grand Bahama Port Authority says finding solutions to the electricity burdens is a priority and it remains affordable and accessible for all.