By Belize Live News Staff: BELMOPAN, Belize, September 15, 2026: Prime Minister John Briceño says Government has removed GST from residential electricity bills for approximately 100,000 Belize Electricity Limited customers.
The announcement was made during the affordability section of the 2026 State of the Nation Address.
Briceño also said the Public Utilities Commission has approved an expansion in the number of customers who qualify for BEL’s lower social rate.
The move comes at a time when electricity prices, load shedding and the cost of living have become major public concerns.
The Prime Minister said Government is aware of the pressure households are facing and is trying to reduce costs where possible.
He also cited GST-free shopping days before the new school year, which he said provided more than $1 million in relief, and Christmas GST tax-free weekends which he said save consumers an additional $5 million.
Briceño argued that the tax exemptions not only help families save money but also encourage spending to remain in the local economy rather than moving across the border.
