A recent ruling by the Fair Trading Commission brings some elements of consumer protection, but it offers limited relief for Barbadians grappling with rising costs.
This is according to Executive Director of the Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) Maureen Holder.
In a decision dated October 29, the FTC approved the Barbados Light & Power’s application to use the fuel clause adjustment to recover rental and operations costs of 11 megawatts of temporary aggreko generator units, as the company’s gas turbine unit 4 is unexpectedly out of commission.
The estimated total monthly cost is $856,046, which will result in a modest increase, as the cost is passed on to the consumer.
Ms. Holder says the rental of the generators was for an anticipated temporary surge in demand for a specified activity like the ICC T-20 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
And she says the timing of the FTC’s decision is puzzling given the decision is coming four months after the conclusion of the World Cup, raising doubts as to whether or not consumers shoulder the rental costs for generators that they are unlikely to benefit from.
