ACM Adjusts maximum variable electricity tariffs

The fuel needed to produce electricity has become more expensive. That is why the Authority for Consumer & Markets (ACM) has increased the maximum rate that the distributors, Water and Energy Company WEB N.V., St. Eustatius Utility Company N.V. and Saba Electric Company N.V. may charge per kilowatt hour.

How much more the distributors will actually charge, they themselves can determine. However, these tariffs may not be higher than the cost effective tariff that was set by the ACM.

ACM sets cost effective tariffs

The ACM has, based on the Law Electricity and Drinking water BES, among other things the task to set rates for electricity and drinking water. This is the maximum rate that a distributor may charge the customers. The ACM sets these rates each year (effective January 1st). The cost-effective variable usage fee for electricity can also be modified by the ACM effective July 1st.

Fuel costs determine price electricity

The variable usage rate is the rate that customers pay for consuming electricity, it is therefore the price per kilowatt hour. A large part of this rate consists of the cost of fuel needed to produce electricity. Because of the increase in fuel costs, as a result of the rise in oil prices, also the variable usage increases the rate of electricity. If fuel costs drop, the ACM  will then also process 
this and will use the variable user rate revised downwards.

On Bonaire the ACM also adjusts the pagabon-tariff. In that variable rate the fuel costs are also processed.

All amounts are in USD / kWh

Bonaire

St. Eustatius

Saba

Current variable usage rate

0.2584

0.2829

0.3617

Variable usage rate as per July 1, 2018

0.2870

0.3150

0.3735

Current rate Pagabon

0.3820

(incl 0.0897 subsidy)

-

-

Pagabon-rate as per July 1, 2018

0.4106

(incl 0.0897 subsidy)

-

-

The decisions of the ACM and the corresponding calculation models are found on the website of the ACM.