By Belize Live News Staff: BEL says the biggest driver behind its request to raise the COPA cap is how much diesel it has had to burn this year.
According to Executive Chairman Lynn Young, the utility normally relies on diesel for only about 2 to 4% of the country’s electricity supply. This year, that figure jumped to around 18%.
“And of course, if we are running diesels at 18%, at double the price of what we normally pay for diesel, then you can imagine the impact that has had on the cost of power,” Young said.
The increase came after CFE in Mexico was unable to supply Belize as planned. Young explained that BEL had started bringing in temporary generation ahead of the hot months of May and June, but the equipment was delayed.
“Those got delayed because of the war. Some of the equipment were coming from that region. And so it affected the shipping and the logistics of getting them here,” he said.
The temporary units only came online in September, after the country had already experienced load shedding.
BEL also pointed to lower than expected hydroelectric generation as a factor.
The utility has asked the PUC to raise the COPA cap from 5% to 10%, which would increase the surcharge from 1.51 cents to 3.01 cents per kilowatt hour. Public comments can be sent to info@puc.bz by 4pm on November 17, 2026.
