The Antigua Public Utilities Authority says rising global fuel prices are now having a direct impact on electricity costs in Antigua and Barbuda, with consumers seeing a significant increase in the Fuel Variation Charge (FVC) on their monthly bills.

Speaking on WTP Radio, APUA Corporate Communications Officer Anazette Reynolds explained that the utility company’s Fuel Variation Charge for May increased from 55 cents to 70 cents per kilowatt-hour, an increase of nearly 30 percent.

Reynolds said the increase is tied directly to rising fuel prices on the international market, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflict involving Iran.

“We would have published the fuel variation rate for May, and it’s a little bit more than what we have seen in recent times,” Reynolds explained.

The Fuel Variation Charge was introduced by APUA in July 2024 as a mechanism to reflect fluctuating fuel costs associated with electricity generation.

Despite the increase, Reynolds noted that part of the actual fuel cost continues to be subsidized, helping to cushion consumers from even steeper electricity rates.

However, she urged customers to closely monitor their electricity consumption, especially as the country enters the hotter summer months when energy demand typically rises.

“The thing about electricity is that you can control your cost based on your usage,” Reynolds said, while encouraging households to adopt energy conservation practices.

She warned that with children expected to be home more frequently during the summer break and temperatures likely to rise, consumers could face even higher bills if energy use is not carefully managed.

The increase comes amid broader concerns over the global cost of energy and the wider economic impact of international conflicts on small island developing states heavily dependent on imported fuel.