The PLP Lied to the Bahamian People About Power Bills and BPL
Last week in the House of Assembly, the Minister of Energy did not tell the truth about electricity costs, fuel prices, and power outages. Here are the facts the government did not share.
The PLP Ran Up Over $100 Million in Debt After Killing the Hedge
When the PLP came to office, a fuel hedgin g program was already in place and working. It helped protect Bahamians from rising fuel prices.
BPL warned the government that the hedge needed to be renewed, but the PLP refused. Once the hedge was stopped, fuel costs exploded and BPL began piling up unpaid fuel bills.
That debt grew to more than $100 million. This was not caused by world markets alone; it was caused by decisions made by this government.
The PLP Lied by Holding Fuel Prices Artificially Low
Instead of renewing the hedge, the PLP ordered fuel prices to be held low without protection in place. They knew this could not last, and they knew the bills would come due.
Those unpaid fuel bills did not disappear. They became debt, and that debt is now being passed on to the Bahamian people through higher electricity costs.
Because of the FNM hedge, power bills were protected. From July 2020 to January 2022 alone, customers saved about $55 million, with a projected total savings of $150 million through March 2024 when the last hedge would expire.
Families are paying today because the government chose politics over sound management.
The PLP Hid a $100 Million Loan to BPL
The government failed to tell Bahamians that BPL required a $100 million loan during their term in office. That money did not appear out of thin air. It was borrowed to cover problems the government created and refused to admit.
Bahamians were told everything was under control while BPL’s finances were quietly falling apart.
The PLP Is Lying About Power Outages
The Minister also claimed that power outages are at historic lows. There is no proof of that.
Power outages are measured by how often the lights go off and how long they stay off. BPL does not publicly track or report this information to its regulator. Without those numbers, no one can check the government’s claims.
If outages are better, show the numbers. Without them, it is just talk.
After four years of PLP failure, Bahamians are paying more just to keep the lights on. Higher power bills have made life harder for working families and driven up the cost of everyday living. With no real relief in sight and government plans that admit prices will continue to rise, the reality is clear. Under the PLP, life has become more expensive, and the burden on Bahamians continues to grow.