The Minister of Home Affairs the Hon. Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, JP, MP, notes the commentary issued earlier today (July 14), by the opposition Shadow Minister regarding the National Electricity Sector Policy 2026.
And Minister Lightbourne shared the following clarifying statement in response.
The Minister said, "The consultative draft of the National Electricity Sector Policy 2026 was published on the Government’s consultation site Citizen's Forum (forum.gov.bm) on April 20, with the feedback period extended to May 21, to allow stakeholders additional time to share their views. The Department of Energy is reviewing every submission received, andthe final Policy will be presented to Cabinet before publication.
"While that work continues, the Government’s fuel duty relief is delivering immediate savings by eliminating the fuel duty on electricity generation, a tax that was doubled by the previous administration. This measure is projected to reduce household electricity bills by approximately $375 per year."
Minister Lightbourne stressed, "The Government also recognises the legitimate concerns of Bermudians who invested in solar energy in good faith. Those investments have reduced Bermuda's reliance on imported fuel and should be reflected in a fair and sustainable regulatory framework.
"While tariff decisions remain the responsibility of the independent Regulatory Authority (RA), the Government has made clear that the benefits of the energy transition must be shared fairly, including by customers who generate their own power.
"That’s why the comprehensive review of Bermuda's transmission and distribution model directed in May 2025, examines exactly these pricing structures, and the impact of the new fee structure on customers who self-generate belongs squarely within that work. This must includes review of the feed-in tariff rate by the RA in support of the governments policy intentions and the public interest."
The Minister Lightbourne concluded, "The National Electricity Sector Policy 2026 replaces aspirational renewable energy targets with a practical, evidence-based Integrated Resource Planning process focused on delivering reliable, least-cost energy solutions. At the same time, distributed solar energy remain among Bermuda's most effective tools for reducing fuel imports, which has been previously stated in public reports and is aligned to the governments policy."
