The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has set the maximum tariffs for electricity and drinking water on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba for 2026. The ACM does this on an annual basis, ensuring that consumers do not pay more than necessary while electricity and drinking water companies retain sufficient financial scope to make the investments needed to support growth on the islands and to invest in sustainability.
To encourage sustainability, the maximum tariffs for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba in 2026 are, for the first time, also based on an incentive for electricity producers to increase the share of sustainably generated electricity. Making the production of energy and drinking water on the islands more sustainable is not only beneficial for the climate but also reduces the islands’ dependence on volatile fuel prices. Fuel prices still have a significant impact on tariff levels, as fossil fuels are still widely used in the production of electricity and drinking water. When setting the tariffs this year, the ACM has also paid additional attention to the persistently high leakage losses in the drinking water network on St Eustatius.
Because the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management subsidise certain electricity and drinking water tariffs, some of the prices paid by consumers are lower than the maximum tariffs set by the ACM. At present, it is not yet known what the level of these subsidies will be.
Bonaire
On Bonaire, the maximum electricity usage tariff will increase from approximately USD 0.32/kWh to approximately USD 0.39/kWh. For an average household (approximately 210 kWh per month), this means that a consumer will pay around USD 14 more per month for electricity usage from 1 January 2026.
The maximum fixed charge for electricity will increase by approximately 6%, with the tariff level depending on the capacity of the connection. The upper limit of the pagabon (prepaid) tariff will increase from approximately USD 0.65/kWh to approximately USD 0.74/kWh. The maximum tariff for drinking water usage will increase from approximately USD 4.06/m³ to approximately USD 4.48/m³.
For an average household (approximately 10 m³ per month), this represents an increase of around USD 4 per month on the bill. The maximum fixed charge for a household will increase from USD 51.23 per month to USD 55.61 per month. None of these amounts take subsidies into account.
Saba
On Saba, the maximum electricity usage tariff will increase from approximately USD 0.39/kWh to approximately USD 0.48/kWh. For an average household, this means that a consumer on Saba will pay around USD 19 more per month for electricity usage from 1 January 2026. The maximum fixed charge for electricity will increase by approximately 15%. None of these amounts take subsidies into account.
St. Eustatius
On St. Eustatius, the maximum electricity usage tariff will increase from approximately USD 0.28/kWh to approximately USD 0.33/kWh. For an average household, this means that a consumer will pay around USD 10 more per month for electricity from 1 January 2026. The maximum fixed charge for electricity will increase by approximately 3%. The maximum tariff for drinking water usage will increase from approximately USD 11.30/m³ to approximately USD 14.94/m³. This is partly due to the persistently high leakage losses. For an average household, this increase in the maximum drinking water tariff will result in an increase of approximately USD 36 per month on the bill. The maximum fixed charge for a household will increase from USD 72.67 per month to USD 82.66 per month. None of these amounts take subsidies into account.