‘This government is focused on people, not politics’, says newly instated Minister of Home Affairs
Stabilizing electricity bills, tackling the rising cost of essential goods, advancing a sustainable energy transition, and strengthening consumer protections — these are among the core Throne Speech pledges outlined in more detail today by Minister of Home Affairs, Alexis Lightbourne.
The newly refocused Ministry is tasked with the ambitious goal of reducing the cost of living – starting with reforms to energy legislation.
“Our energy sector is at a crossroads, said Minister Lightbourne. “The Integrated Resource Plan, also known as the IRP, has laid out a transformative path toward sustainable and cost-effective electricity. Since 2019, we’ve been laying the groundwork to reduce fossil fuel dependence and transition to modern energy solutions.
The goals defined in the IRP include:
- Reducing our fossil fuel reliance
- Stabilizing costs
- Infrastructure development
- Outreach and education on energy efficiency and conservation and
- Deploying new energy technologies which will chart our path toward building a
sustainable future.
Energy transitions worldwide are being addressed systematically and we endeavour to do the same. This day-one reality means that, while customers may not see major improvements in their bills overnight, they should feel confident knowing that the next phase is designed to stabilize electricity bills through amending the Electricity Act to ensure transparent and efficient operations.”
Minister Lightbourne acknowledged that the cost-of-living crisis won’t be solved overnight, but promised to move forward with “urgency, transparency, and action”.
A key initiative she unveiled is the launch of Bermuda’s first-ever Cost of Living Summit, aimed at bringing together stakeholders from across sectors to examine the root causes of high living costs and identify tangible solutions.
Minister Lightbourne further explained, “In the lead-up to the Summit, the Ministry has launched a two-part national engagement effort:
- Stakeholder Consultations with businesses, a survey which is already underway, engages
with service providers, and community leaders to identify barriers, bottlenecks, and
solutions from every sector. - Those findings will support focus group efforts to better drill down on the core drivers of
costs in Bermuda. - We will then launch a Public Survey, in the coming days, which will capture lived
experiences and ideas from residents on how affordability challenges are affecting their
lives.
The insights gathered will inform a Cost-of-Living Report, and will provide clear recommendations for reform, especially in consumer protection and regulatory oversight.”
While a date for the Summit has not yet been announced, it is expected to take place later this year.
As for when residents might begin to feel relief in their energy bills or grocery receipts, Minister Lightbourne stressed the importance of first gathering robust data to inform any sustainable solutions.
“Since my appointment, I’ve sought first to understand the current landscape and what the Ministry has already advanced,” she stated. “You may recall the 2020 amendment to the Cost of Living Act, which included the Cost of Living Commission’s remit and the designation of 33 essential goods to be duty-free. Our current efforts are focused on collecting further data through surveys and stakeholder engagement — to better understand the challenges faced by both businesses and residents — and to inform a strategy that can deliver sustainable impact on the cost of living.”
