Minister of Energy Senator Lisa Cummins defended the new Electricity Supply Bill against claims of insufficient public consultation, asserting that the government conducted an exhaustive and inclusive process involving multiple stakeholders over several years.
As Senate lawmakers on Friday took up the legislation which would replace the 2013 Electric Light and Power Act, Senator Cummins indirectly responded to concerns raised by consumer advocate and former opposition senator Tricia Watson, who warned that the bill could undermine public involvement in the regulation of the Barbados Light and Power Company.
She assured that proper due diligence was carried out, noting that consultations on the bill involved a broad cross-section of industry experts, government agencies, and the public.
The minister stressed that the process was extensive and collaborative, with several opportunities for input and revisions.
“This bill is perhaps one of the most recent representations of what consultation and engagement with the public looks like,” she said.
“This process started in 2019, was made public in 2020, and opened for consultation throughout 2022 and 2023. The comments from all stakeholders were reviewed and incorporated into the draft bill, which was then sent back out for further consultations.”
Cummins provided a detailed timeline of the process, noting that feedback was received from entities such as the Barbados Renewable Energy Association (BREA), the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), the Ministry of Transport, and the University of the West Indies.
She further revealed that the public had been given ample opportunity to provide input through various platforms, including the Ministry of Energy’s website, the Government Information Service, and public notices in newspapers.
Addressing concerns raised by Watson about the elimination of intervenors in future electricity generation licensing cases, Senator Cummins pointed out that the role of intervenors remains intact within the framework of the Fair Trading Commission.
“The bill is a coherent bill. It is a policy-driven bill. It assigns to the regulator the role of the regulator because they already have those roles assigned in the Fair Trading Commission Act and in the Utilities Regulation Act,” she said.
“There has never been a mechanism in our legislation for there to be anything called an intervenor before the ministry of the market monitor. It has never existed in law. But it has existed before the Fair Trading Commission.”
The minister dismissed the notion that the process was rushed or lacked transparency, emphasising that the ministry not only solicited input from local entities but also sought expert advice from international energy sector specialists.
“This was not brought here in any rush. It was not brought here without the broadest of consultations and with the most expert of opinions having the opportunity to weigh in,” she said, noting that additional meetings were held in March to ensure all voices were heard.
Senator Cummins also addressed claims that foreign entities were privy to licensing terms while Barbadians were left in the dark, reiterating that local groups such as BREA and FTC were fully involved.
In addition to outlining the consultations held, she revealed plans to create a “regulatory sandbox” for energy legislation, allowing ongoing revisions as the energy sector evolves.
The energy minister listed the wide range of stakeholders who contributed to the bill, including the Barbados National Oil Company, the Ministry of Finance, the University of the West Indies, Light and Power, and the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers, among others. (SM)
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