Starting next month, electricity bills from the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) will reflect the changing cost of fuel instead of a fixed price. The state-owned entity is reintroducing a flexible fuel variation charge on electricity bills.

This adjustment means your electricity bill will now vary based on the price of the fuel used to generate electricity, replacing the current fixed rate. For nearly a decade, the rate has been fixed and was further reduced to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

APUA explains that reintroducing a flexible charge will provide a more accurate reflection of fuel price fluctuations and the actual cost of generating electricity.

The utility provider notes that the operational costs of electricity generation have been heavily subsidized by both the reduced variation rate and an additional 10 percent early payment discount to support customers.

APUA also emphasizes that this change does not necessarily mean higher electricity bills, as cost savings will be passed on to customers when fuel prices decrease.

Public Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas mentioned in a statement that customers can ultimately look forward to benefiting from reduced fuel costs for APUA. This will be facilitated when the power plant at Crabs, set to be commissioned later this year, begins operating on natural gas, which will also reduce the country’s carbon footprint.

Additionally, the 10 percent early payment discount will remain in effect, according to APUA.