Industry News

Belco’s parent company, struggling with massive debts and big losses and facing an aggressive activist investor, is looking for a new leader and selling off assets.

The Government has pulled the plug on plans to purchase a second batch of energy-saving light bulbs for homes across the island.

Two town hall meetings on the island’s potential for a 60-megawatt wind farm have been scheduled by the Regulatory Authority.

A regulatory body’s decision to not fully increase Belco’s electricity rates must be re-evaluated, a lawyer argued in the Supreme Court yesterday.

Customers of telecoms company One Communications went without internet service for more than an hour early this evening.

A government initiative will help Bermudian households to save money on their electricity bills, the Minister of Home Affairs announced yesterday.

Power has been restored to more than 11,000 properties in the western parishes that were hit by an outage late Saturday night. The blackout, caused by a fault in Belco’s underground transmission network, occurred at about 10.50pm.

Bermuda had the second most expensive electricity in the world in July 2023, according to ElectricRate.com. Island residents paid 37 cents per kilowatt hour, far above the 14.2 cent global average.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed an emission control order will be imposed to abate pollution from Belco. Emission control orders can result in fines against the utility of up to $50,000 per day for noncompliance.

The environment department has informed the Minister of Home Affairs that Belco has breached the Clean Air Act 1991, and the Regulatory Authority has been instructed to take action.

Mobile phone service provider, One Communications, is increasing the rates for monthly service as of August 1.

The Bermuda mobile network operator, Paradise Mobile, has signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into a strategic partnership with high-flying UK company, Aalto Haps.

Environmental charity Greenrock said it is largely supportive of the Regulatory Authority’s proposal for a 60-megawatt wind farm presented at a town hall meeting on Wednesday evening.

A measure designed to reduce the fallout of soot from Belco’s North Power Station on to neighbouring properties was not implemented by the energy firm, The Royal Gazette has learnt.

Belco may purchase a US-certified air quality monitoring station and retroactively request approval and recovery of funds, the Regulatory Authority has made clear.

Belco is working on a proposal to use liquefied natural gas for power generation, according to minutes released by the Environmental Authority, Bermuda’s emissions regulator.

The Regulatory Authority is to provide the public with an update on research carried out on the use of an offshore wind farm in Bermuda.

Residents living in the shadow of Belco have started a petition questioning why water tanks at properties next to the power plant were not tested for contaminants last year.

Andre Labonte has always been a problem solver. So, when the president of Evolution Motors was continually asked by prospective buyers of the dealership’s electric vehicles where they were going to charge the cars, he decided to address the issue in-house.

Digicel+ customers will see a jump in their bill starting on July 1, the telecommunications provider announced yesterday.

A sale of Horizon Communications “as a going concern has not been achieved,” they will continue providing internet until June 26th “at which time the Horizon network will be decommissioned" ...

The ratings of telecom provider Digicel have been lowered by a major rating agency.

Staff made redundant at Horizon Communications recently have been told it is highly unlikely they will receive any severance pay or other monies owed, The Royal Gazette has learnt.

“Bermuda has taken a significant step towards sustainable energy development with the introduction of the Electricity Amendment Act 2022 [Consequential Amendments] Regulations 2023."

Paradise Mobile is close to finishing its 5G network build-out, it has told observers at an international 5G conference in Austin, Texas.

A question mark hangs over whether staff being let go at Horizon Communications will receive their redundancy and severance payments.

Bermudians pay more for internet than almost anyone else on the planet, a recently published UK study of 219 countries has found.

The news that Digicel intends to raise their Bermuda internet rates was a cause of concern among some subscribers.

Walter Roban hailed Bermuda’s progress on environmentally friendly policies at an international renewable energy conference in Miami.

Energy-saving LED light bulbs, which could save Bermuda consumers as much as $22 million over four years, will first be distributed to seniors and low-income households, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced.

Digicel internet subscribers have been given a month’s notice of an impending price hike for the service, in a message from the company.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said she passed over an inquiry into Belco pollution to Walter Roban because she only has powers to impose a one-off penalty of $2,500, but the home affairs minister can demand fines of $50,000 a day if an environmental problem is not fixed.

The Regulatory Authority is inviting the public to provide input to a report assessing what customers should be liable to pay for on their Belco electricity bill.

The Department of Energy warned in 2018 that the planning application for Belco’s North Power Station may be “premature”, given the country had not yet had its say on Bermuda’s future electricity generation.

While many people want to support renewable energy in Bermuda, the cost of installing solar panels can be prohibitive.

Drinks giant Bacardi is unveiling a “greener makeover” at its global headquarters in Bermuda in time for Saturday’s Earth Day to further cut its carbon footprint and to create a working environment that promotes greater wellbeing for its employees.

Private sector financing will play a critical role in the development of cleaner renewable energy in small-island nations, the Minister of Home Affairs has said.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, has passed the investigation into Belco pollution on to the environment department.

One Communications has expanded its product range of Apple products in its newly designed Church Street retail store, the company said in a statement.

The Government is looking for a company to supply additional LED light bulbs as part of continued stimulus efforts, according to a recently published request for quotation.

The manufacturer of Belco’s dual fuel engines has said it is not surprised that Bermuda is facing challenges with ongoing emissions, given its equipment is being run on heavy fuel oil.

Energy professionals from 12 Caribbean countries recently met to learn about Bermuda’s clean energy progress. A Government spokesperson said, “Recently [30 March], Acting Premier and Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban gave closing remarks highlighting Bermuda’s clean energy progress and ...

High levels of aluminium, iron and manganese have been found in water tanks in Pembroke after testing carried out in accordance with Belco’s operating licence requirements.

A government MP has suggested extensive media coverage of emissions from Belco that have plagued the lives of residents since the commissioning of the North Power Station in 2020 is spurred by a Black man being the plant’s president.

A site has been selected for a firm to set up a wave energy farm off the island if it gets approval for the project, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has revealed.

Belco president Wayne Caines has moved to allay concerns from the power plant’s neighbours about emissions.

An environmental unit consulted its British counterpart about tackling sources of pollution after levels of sulphur dioxide recorded in an area close to Belco exceeded UK targets.

A “technical and complicated” Bill to update air quality legislation must undergo an in-depth review to meet public needs, a government spokesman said.

Belco could face hefty fines of up to $50,000 a day if its emissions are ruled a nuisance and not abated, the Minister of Health said yesterday.

One in seven homes tested for the impact of Belco pollution was found to have water taste and clarity levels that breach international standards, it has emerged.

Vicki Steele has been appointed as the new chief operating officer of One Communications.

High-voltage power lines, enclosed spaces and work at height are real dangers involved in solar panel installation.

An expert review said in 2021 that the "most effective“ way to mitigate Belco’s soot emissions is for the plant to burn a lower-polluting fuel.

The health minister has the legal power to stop soot emissions from Belco by declaring them a “statutory nuisance”, The Royal Gazette has learnt.

Digicel, the international telecommunications company with a significant presence in Bermuda, is in talks with creditors concerning $925 million in bonds coming due tomorrow that the company is unable to repay.

One Communications announced the launch of its new Business Bundles, called “Business in a Box,” which they said “offers everything a business needs to get started or grow their existing business ..

Pembroke residents are enduring an “abomination” from a rain of soot from the Belco power plant, the home affairs minister stated, calling it “unacceptable” and “intolerable”.

Energy-saving light bulbs will soon be made available to the most needy under a Government stimulus programme.

One Communications Ltd., the island’s largest internet and cable provider, has gone directly to shareholders, inviting them to “offer to sell their shares” to the company for $4.50 per share ...

The Regulatory Authority of Bermuda has issued a statement in an attempt to make it clear that environmental emissions do not come under its purview.

In this year’s Budget, “$400,000 will be spent to complete the installation of solar panels on several government buildings,” the Minister of Public Works Lt/Col David Burch said.

Pembroke residents have complained about another apparent soot fallout from Belco on Saturday morning.

New mobile communications company Paradise Mobile has named the Texas-headquartered company Mavenir as their technology provider powering a new 4G and 5G network.

Belco will likely be told to put in place “robust changes” to how it ensures a reliable energy supply in the wake of Friday’s island-wide power outage, the independent energy regulator said yesterday.

Belco should write off the bills of neighbours of Belco who have been affected by emissions, a senior Cabinet Minister said.

The Government is seeking public input on how to phase out gas powered cars and replace them with zero emission vehicles.

Belco is facing a backlash from angry neighbours after another soot fallout.

Efforts by Belco to restore power to tens of thousands of homes after Hurricane Fiona have been recognised with an award.

Receivers have been appointed at Horizon Communications with the aim of finding a buyer for the company. The firm provides high-speed internet access to business and domestic customers across the island.

Energy bills will come down from New Year’s Day for the average user, Belco has said.

The Government has saved $42,000 in electricity costs since solar panels started operating on the roofs of the General Post Office and the Government Administration Building in June, MPs were told.

About a third of the $22 million being spent on an emergency stabilisation programme at Tynes Bay is going to Bermudian firms and workers, the Government has said.

A private company could establish a new, ten-megawatt solar farm in Castle Harbour, consisting of floating photovoltaic panels, it has emerged.

A clean air advocacy group is questioning the timeline for the drafting of new clean air laws aimed at curbing pollution, saying it has received mixed messages from the Government.

Niall Sheehy has replaced Frank Amaral as the chief executive of One Communications.

The Regulatory Authority has requested that Belco submit a proposal for an updated Integrated Resource Plan that will decide the future of the island’s electricity generation.

Digicel Business Bermuda has made donations to two local charities — Vision Bermuda and Open Airways.

Spending approval will be sought by the Ministry of Home Affairs for a $500,000 scheme – announced four months ago – to hand out LED light bulbs to families.

Belco has failed to confirm or deny whether there are levels of air contaminants surrounding its Pembroke plant that exceed the UK limits with which Bermuda aims to align under new air quality laws.

Belco has defended exceeding the UK Air Quality Objective for emissions and said the company had adhered to local laws.

Bermuda’s environmental watchdog is to call on the Minister of Home Affairs to reconsider the decision to defund the Government’s air quality monitoring programme.

This may not be electrifying news to island residents, but Bermuda has been found to be the most expensive place in the world to run appliances.

Digicel Business has launched new rates for mobile business plans affecting corporate customers.

The RA is to be given authority to ensure that fuel prices are “fair and transparent” so that the consumer is better protected, according to proposed government legislation.