Those who aren't happy with BEL's new rate package had until yesterday to submit written objections to the Public Utilities Commission. General Manager of the PUC, Roberto Young confirmed that 11 submissions were received. They include letters from the Chamber of Commerce, BTL which is a commercial user, and two politicians: UDP standard bearer for Caribbean Shores Carlos Perdomo and Area Representative for Albert Mark
Espat.
In his letter to the PUC written on behalf of his constituency, Espat points to BEL's record $26 million profit and $149 million revenue and concludes that, "this company should be proposing to reduce tariffs, rather than increasing them." He closes by urging the PUC to reject BEL's proposal. Espat asks that the PUC should only agree to remove the $10 service charge to residential customers.
The PUC will consider these submissions and announce its initial decision on May second. After that, BEL has 10 days to review it, and if they don't protest, that initial decision would be made final on May 14th. If BEL does object, the PUC would have to bring in an independent expert to make an assessment.
