Government, SIDF and SKELEC agree to prevent further increases in electricity rates

Hon. Dr. Asim Martin

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY 22ND 2013 (CUOPM) – While electricity rates in several countries and American states are been increased, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is taking measures to prevent further increases in the twin-island Federation.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Energy, the Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin, advised the Cabinet of Ministers that his ministry recently made an intervention in consultation with the St. Kitts Electricity Company, SKELEC, to maintain the current electricity rates instead of increasing them as the company had promised.

“The Hon. Minister indicated that SKELEC has incurred additional operational costs but has agreed to maintain the current rates, improve operational efficiencies and deliver even improved quality of service in the near future,” said Minister of Information, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty in a post Cabinet Briefing.

Mr. Carty disclosed that Energy Minister Martin, however, emphasized the need for citizens and commercial consumers to adopt energy-conservation practices and for renewable energy to become part of the mix of alternatives.

Dr. Martin further encouraged nationals to take advantage of the measures already in place to support investment in renewable energy equipment, such as solar panel, and articulated his ministry’s strong commitment to partnering with the private sector to promote renewable energy development on a national scale.