NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A citizen advocacy group said last night while it was pleased the imposition of the Grand Bahama Power Company’s (GBPC) Storm Recovery and Stabilization (SRS) has been delayed yet again, it intends to continue to protest against it.
The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) announced yesterday that it has worked with the power company to further delay the implementation of its Storm Recovery and Stabilization (SRS) charge to 2021.
“The SRS charge, which allows the utility to recoup costs associated with storm restoration deemed reasonable by the GBPA, was initially approved for implementation on April 1, 2020,” said Karla McIntosh, GBPA General Legal Counsel in a statement.
“However, with the onset of COVID-19 and two subsequent country-wide lockdowns, the SRS charge was initially delayed to August 1, and then further to October 1, to help support residents during this challenging period.” GBPC is permitted to recoup non-insured, prudent costs associated with recovery from a natural disaster amortized over a five-year period.
Pastor Eddie Victor, an outspoken critic of the power company and founder of the Coalition for Concerned Citizens (CCC) addressed the delay during a Zoom meeting last night.
“We are pleased that they have decided to delay the storm recovery charge,” he said.
“We are not pleased that they are implementing it at all. We will continue to protest against it. We are totally against it.”
“The economy of Grand Bahama can not afford any additional increases. The economy is still reeling from Hurricane Dorian,” said Victor.
“The base rate they are charging is more than Nassau and the rest of The Bahamas.The only saving grace has been the fuel charge which has remained consistent.”
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