BVI Electricity Corporation Introduces Solar Program to Cut Energy Costs by Half

The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) has initiated a groundbreaking solar initiative, the Solar Technology Energy Program (STEP), announced by Communication and Works Minister Kye Rymer. This new program is poised to significantly reduce electricity costs, potentially saving consumers up to 50%.

For years, the British Virgin Islands have faced steep energy costs, influenced by factors like fuel and shipping expenses, similar to challenges in the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Our goal has been to find and implement strategies that reduce energy costs for the Virgin Islanders,” stated Minister Rymer during the unveiling of the STEP initiative.

Under this program, BVIEC will not only purchase but also install solar power generation systems on residential properties at no cost to the homeowners. These systems will connect to the grid, enabling residents to feed surplus electricity back to BVIEC and receive credits in return.

To assess public interest in STEP, BVIEC has launched an online survey available exclusively to residential homeowners. This initiative comes after last year’s energy consumption surge, which led BVIEC to implement power rationing. By enhancing residential solar capacity, the STEP program aims to prevent future demand-driven power shortages and stabilize the region’s energy supply.