EUD Commissioner assures moves toward ensuring 21st Century utilities for the Turks and Caicos at Business Outlook

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 25, 2024 – Commissioner of Energy and Utilities in the Turks and Caicos (TCI), Delano Arthur says the Government is ensuring affordability and reliability in the energy sector through new policies and regulation.

Addressing the recent inaugural TCI Business Outlook (TCIBO), Mr. Arthur said the current rules in the sector are outdated, and the policies that being worked on will make the industry operate under 21^st Century regulation for the best interest of all in the society.

“The Government understands the risks and challenges, the opportunities, and is putting in place procedures and legislation to ensure that the energy future for the TCI, is bright, affordable, sustainable and reliable,” he told the Forum.

Stressing that the islands can get to a position of energy reliability, he said it must be a working together effort, and while technology is driving the society to new business models, there is a need for change, and the Government believes that for sustainable growth, there must be policy base decisions made by the administration.

He said the decisions must be made in the “best interest” of all who are involved, and not “just one entity, or sector. The call to action brings us to embrace new technologies, adapt to sustainable methods, and to practice energy efficiency,” he said.

The forum was held under the theme: “Opportunities for Growth and Inclusion for all TCI Stakeholders,” and had in attendance the Premier, Deputy Premier, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Tourism minister, other senior Government officials, business leaders, students and Tourism and Banking stakeholders.

Presentations were made by various sector leaders on the economic prospect and direction of the islands.

Topics ranged from ‘Strategies for Enhancing the Business Environment’, ‘Managing the Transition to a Cleaner Energy Future”, and the role of regulation in ensuring affordable, reliable, and sustainable utilities.

Mr. Arthur said the new policies being pursued by the Commission, are geared at reform of the sector which is in “dire need” of regulatory transformation, and a multi-sector policy paper has been drafted, to provide for rules on “best practices” to govern all utilities, and greater reliance on renewable energy.

“What we have is outdated and inefficient, and not design for our energy future, and the proposed regulatory model is based on industry best practices, and will help both the regulator and the regulated, to strive in a way that is sustainable to all involved,” the Commissioner said.

He said further, that the system provides for a licensing authority for utilities in water, energy and telecommunications (among others), to ensure that they are able to abide by specific rules and regulations which are based on 21^st Century practices.