The Bottom, Saba- Effective January 1st, 2018 the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM, Autoriteit Consument en Markt) establishes the new maximum tariffs for electricity on Saba. It regards the fixed distribution tariff and the variable distribution tariff that Saba Electric can maximally charge the consumer effective from January 1st, 2018 in order to cover the costs of the production and the supply of electricity. The ACM also re-establishes the connection and reconnection tariff for 2018.

In pursuance of the Electricity and Drinking Water Act BES the ACM has the duty of establishing break-even tariffs. This implies that the ACM calculated what it costs Saba Electric to produce electricity and to supply it to the consumer.

Taking the affordability of electricity for, in particular, small households into account, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy made a subsidy available. With this subsidy the monthly invoice is set lower than the break-even tariff for specific categories of buyers. The level of this subsidy and the exact elaboration shall yet be communicated.

Changes in tariff
On Saba the variable distribution tariff for electricity increases from USD 0.32 per kWh to USD 0.36 per kWh, inter alia on account of the increased fuel price. As soon as the solar park on Saba has been put into use, Saba Electric is expected to charge a lower variable distribution tariff as fuel is then saved. The fixed distribution tariff increases by 5% due to increased costs at Saba Electric.

Electricity and Drinking Water Act BES
On July 1st, 2016 the Electricity and Drinking Water Act BES took effect. There are four types of tariffs: the connection tariff, the reconnection tariff (after having been disconnected), the fixed and the variable distribution tariff. On July 1st, 2017 the ACM first established these maximum tariffs for Saba.