NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Electricity bills in The Bahamas have soared by as much as 100 percent under the Davis administration, and the worst may not be over, according to an FNM Senator, who is once again sounding the alarm over what she describes as a growing burden on Bahamian households and businesses.
In her second sharp rebuke in recent days, the Free National Movement Senator (FNM) Michaela Barnett-Ellis has accused the government of misleading the public on electricity costs while failing to implement a credible or sustainable energy strategy. Barnett-Ellis called on the Davis administration to “come clean” about the rising cost of energy and the long-term pain Bahamians are being asked to endure without relief.
“Electricity bills in The Bahamas have doubled under the Davis Administration, and despite the Prime Minister’s claims, Bahamians are not fooled,” she said. “The data is clear, the pain is real, and the government’s excuses are running on empty.”
Citing official fuel charge data from Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), Barnett-Ellis noted that for households using less than 800 kilowatt-hours, the fuel charge has risen from 10 cents to 17.4 cents per KWh — a 74 percent increase. For customers using more than 800 KWh, the hike is even more dramatic, reaching 21.4 cents — a 114 percent increase since the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) took office in September 2021.
“This isn’t speculation; this information is based on official BPL fuel charge data,” she said. “And yet, the Prime Minister boldly claimed this week that ‘bills have not gone up.’ That is not just misleading — it’s an insult to every family staring at a light bill they can’t afford.”
The senator also pointed to the government’s own Energy Plan, published in April, which admits that households will “experience short-term price pressures” until at least 2027 as new energy infrastructure is developed.
“Translation: the pain is far from over,” Barnett-Ellis declared. “These relentless increases are not a result of higher usage; they are a direct consequence of this government’s failed energy policies, lack of planning, and refusal to offer meaningful relief to struggling Bahamians.”
In an earlier statement last week, Barnett-Ellis said she was personally “shocked” by her August BPL bill, which reflected a 25 to 30 percent increase month-over-month. “When they took office, the fuel charge was around 10 cents,” she said. “Today, it’s over 17 cents. That means it’s 70 percent more before your usage and VAT.”
“BPL said prices would level off by early 2024, but it’s now mid-2025 and the bills are still rising with no explanation and no relief,” she continued. “So where’s the cheaper electricity we were promised? Because from where I stand, this is not a new day — it’s a never-ending nightmare.”
Customers have flooded social media with complaints about skyrocketing electricity bills in recent weeks, with some describing their latest bills as the highest since 2019.
BPL has attributed the spike to increased demand during the summer months and heavier reliance on rental generators running on more expensive fuels like automotive diesel oil (ADO). The government, has rolled out a temporary “Summer Energy Rebate” lowering fuel charges by 1.1 cents per KWh — a measure that many consumers say has done little to offset their dramatically higher bills.
