The Public Utilities Commission has brought criminal charges against Belize
Electricity Limited. That's right criminal charges against your power
provider. The charge is of failure to submit a Full Tariff Review Proceeding
to the Public Utilities Commission.
Chairman of the PUC John Avery today confirmed that the charges arise because
BEL was supposed to submit a full tariff review as the law required them to
on January 21st. of 2009. Avery says his Commission showed maximum leniency
and wrote BEL several times requesting the FTRP. One year later with still no
result, he says the PUC was satisfied that it had exhausted all best efforts
and had no choice but to file charges within the maximum leeway time of 12 months.
Yesterday in court, BEL's Manager of Financial reports and records, Jason
Rivers appeared for the company, pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned
for April 8. The bad news for the PUC is that the offence carries a maximum
fine of five thousand dollars which for a company that grossed $185 million
last year – is less than a drop in the bucket. In lieu of a fine, the
court can also order six months imprisonment.
Avery told us he knows that is unlikely, but he would prefer that penalty.
He told us that he believes that no FTRP was submitted because BEL has embarked
upon a deliberate strategy to frustrate the PUC's rate setting process.
He says that he believes that because the cost of oil was more expensive when
rates were set in 2008 – any subsequent review would result in lower rates.
He adds that by his commission's calculation, BEL currently owes consumers
$35 million because of lower oil prices – money which he claims the company
is using as interest free financing.
Strong charges, but despite numerous attempts we were unable to reach any
BEL spokesperson for comment.
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