Higher maximum rates for electricity and drinking water on Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius
The maximum rates for the production and distribution of electricity and drinking water on Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius will increase effective 1 January 2022. This increase is mainly due to the fact that the price of oil needed to produce electricity and drinking water has risen sharply.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) annually sets the maximum rates for electricity for Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius. The ACM also sets the maximum rates for drinking water for Bonaire and St. Eustatius. The ACM determines the rates on the basis of the costs incurred by the producers and distributors. These companies then determine themselves, on the basis of these maximum rates, what they actually charge customers.
Unpredictable oil prices have a major impact on production costs and thus on (maximum) rates for electricity. That is why a vigorous further increase in sustainability of production on the islands will not only contribute to a better climate, but actually also to more stable electricity and drinking water rates, because sustainability reduces the dependence on oil.
In previous years, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management have always provided subsidies to the companies so that they could charge lower rates to customers. The Ministries indicated that they would do the same for 2022.
Bonaire
For Bonaire, the maximum usage rate for electricity increases from approximately 0,29 USD/kWh to approximately USD 0,33/ kWh. The maximum limit for the pagabon rate (prepaid) increases from approximately USD 0,50/ kWh to approximately USD 0,53/ kWh. These increases are mainly due to expected higher costs of the production of electricity. For the consumption of an average household, this means an increase of approximately USD 8 per month on the electricity bill.
The maximum rate for the consumption of drinking water decreases from approximately USD 3,81/ m3 to approximately USD 3,74/ m3. For an average household, this means a drop of approximately USD 0,75 per month on the bill.
Saba
For Saba, the maximum electricity usage rate increases from approximately USD 0,37/ kWh to approximately USD 0,41/ kWh. This is mainly due to expected higher costs for the production of electricity. For the consumption of an average household, this means an increase of about USD 9 per month on the electricity bill.
St. Eustatius
For St. Eustatius, the maximum electricity usage rate increases from approximately USD 0,32/ kWh to approximately USD 0,36/ kWh. This increase is mainly due to expected higher costs for the production of electricity. For the consumption of an average household, this means an increase of approximately USD 8 per month on the electricity bill.
The maximum rate for the use of drinking water increases from approximately USD 6,73/ m3 to approximately USD 8,62/ m3. For an average household, this means an increase of approximately USD 19 per month on the bill. Part of this increase is not only due to the increased oil price, but also because repairs were necessary to the transport pipeline.