B.E.L. Explores Time-Of-Use Billing System

Your light bill could soon work a little differently. Belize Electricity Limited is exploring a new billing system called time-of-use rates. What does that mean? Basically, the cost of electricity would depend on when you use it. If you run your appliances late at night or early in the morning, those off-peak hours, you’ll pay less. But during peak times, like when everyone’s home in the evening, it could cost more. This morning on Open Your Eyes, B.E.L. reps explained that the idea is to give you more control over your bill and encourage smarter energy use. In short, it’s about putting the power back in your hands.

 

Austin Castro, General Manager, Belize Electricity Limited

“So previously and as things stand right now, there is one flat rate for electricity. But that does not coincide with the diverse mix of electricity that we are getting at different peaks when the electricity is expensive. So, what we are doing is sending price signals to the market to indicate that at this time, electricity is cheaper, at this time, electricity is expensive. So at this time electricity is cheaper, at this time electricity is expensive. So, we are looking at time of use billing and that will send price signals to customers and to the general public as to how to maximize. What it really does it puts control of your electricity bill into your hands. From a sector standpoint, it allows the sector to manage that peak demand, so that the overall cost of electricity comes down and it is cheaper.”

 

Kadijah Usher, Manager, Belize Electricity Limited

“It is going to be a situation where you as a the customer when we say this is the cost of electricity at this time, you can choose and say you know what, I am not going to do my laundry right now, it is a bit too pricey, but when I get home in the evening from work, sun goes down, things are good, and we hit you with cheaper prices, you can capitalize on that.  It is more than us showing you commercials and say, turn off the lights. It is more than that. It is incentivizing you to be efficient and rewarding you for your efficiency practice, which is not really happening.”

 

Sabreena Daly

“I think an obvious follow-up question, how much higher would those prices be during times when it is most expensive?”

Kadijah Usher

“So, during those warmer temperatures, because the incentive is to shift your behavior to a cheaper time then it might be a little bit higher, but that does not the bill will be higher. As we said, the power is now in your hands.”