Statement by Dwayne Robinson, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs:
In an increasingly unstable world and Bermuda’s isolated location the Government must get serious about Bermuda’s energy security.
The One Bermuda Alliance continues to remind the Progressive Labour Party government that releasing plans or policy papers is not the same as addressing the issue. I welcomed the release of the National Electricity Sector Policy 2026 after calling on the Minister of Home Affairs to show leadership within this sector. However, actions speak louder than words. What has the Minister done since the release of this plan?
We have recently seen the announcement of a Balcony Solar Pilot programme. The OBA welcomes making solar energy more accessible to Bermudians, especially since we recommended it.
However, this pilot flies in the face of our current state of solar. Many solar users have been hit with a large increase in their bills due to a newly enacted facilities charge, and many are contemplating removing their panels. The Minister of Home Affairs has refused to speak on how the Government intends to maintain the current solar users in Bermuda or protect future ones. This Balcony Solar Pilot is yet another promise of lowering bills, like the promise of installing solar panels on your home.
How will the Government ensure that these balcony solar users will not end up in a similar boat with the current solar customers? They made an investment to lower their bills based on Progressive Labour Party government promises, only for their bills to increase later due to circumstances beyond their control.
The Minister of Home Affairs has suspended the Integrated Resource Plan 2026 and effectively stalled any meaningful investment into our energy future, regardless of the release of the National Electricity Sector Policy (NESP) 2026.
This leaves her in the position of going through the legal appeal processes launched by Belco and the Regulatory Authority on the legality of her IRP 2026 suspension or come back to the people and admit she was not correct to suspend it.
Either option leaves any progress to enhance Bermuda’s energy security or lower Bermudian bills in limbo. The investment needed for the Government’s NESP 2026 to come to fruition is affected by the legal disputes over our current IRP.
As we know the Government has already spent $24,000 in litigation over the IRP 2026 since September. How much more did it cost us? What is the status of the appeals? Can the Minister stand in front of Bermuda and assure Bermudians she was within her legal rights to suspend a finalized IRP? Can the Minister stand on her previous point that the IRP 2026 and the NESP 2026 are not aligned? While Bermudians wait for these answers, their bills continue to burden their households.
The OBA would earmark suitable Government owned land for utility wide solar to increase our energy security and limit price fluctuations from external shocks. It would also strengthen the Regulatory Authority to safeguard the consumer and to oversee the Integrated Resource Plan process.
The OBA would repeal Government’s ability to suspend an already finalized IRP, to remove concerns of Government interference, and avoid stalling Bermuda’s progress. In true collaboration with Belco and the Regulatory Authority, the OBA would ensure solar would be more accessible to Bermudians and create a less punitive solar billing structure.
We will safeguard Bermuda’s energy security, provide stronger regulation on energy bills, make our grid more sustainable, and wherever possible lower energy bills. All of which the Minister of Home Affairs can currently work towards, and I urge her to utilise the ideas.
