By Belize Live News Staff: Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) says base electricity rates will stay the same, following an Initial Decision from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on the company’s tariff submission for the 2025/2026 Annual Tariff Period. However, a new mechanism is being introduced that customers will begin to see on their bills.
BEL confirmed that its submission proposed no changes to the base electricity rate. Alongside that, the company proposed a new automatic Cost of Power Adjustment, or COPA, aimed at ensuring the timely recovery of costs tied to power purchased from Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) and other Independent Power Producers.
The company explained that purchased power is the single largest cost in providing electricity in Belize. The COPA mechanism, it says, is meant to bring greater transparency, fairness, and timeliness to how those costs show up on bills. Crucially, BEL emphasised that COPA is not just an extra charge, and that the adjustment can go up or down depending on the actual cost of power. If power costs rise above the PUC-approved reference cost, a limited adjustment may be applied. If they fall below it, customers should see savings reflected on their bills.
For customers, BEL highlighted a few key takeaways. First, the approved base rates remain unchanged, offering stability for homes and businesses. Second, the adjustment will show up as a separate line item, so customers can clearly see how power costs are affecting their monthly totals. The Government has also said the adjustment will be exempt from GST, helping to soften the impact of any fluctuations.
BEL added that it and the Government continue to invest in utility-scale renewable energy projects expected to reduce electricity costs over time, meaning customers stand to benefit when power costs dip below the reference point. As a safeguard, the mechanism relies on a six-month rolling average to even out short-term swings, and the adjustment is capped at roughly 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, meant to shield customers from sudden, steep bill increases.
Recognising customer concerns about electricity costs, especially when usage is high, BEL said the new approach is designed to be more transparent and equitable, while making sure savings reach customers promptly when costs fall. The company reaffirmed its commitment to safe, reliable, and sustainable energy, and to greater confidence in the billing process.
