Electricity

To obtain electricity services, property owners are required to complete and sign an application for electrical service, pay a deposit for post-pay service (there is no deposit required for pre-pay electricity), show proof of ownership and a photo ID. Tenants are required to complete and sign an application for electrical service, pay a deposit (for post-paid accounts), provide a signed rental agreement or lease and submit a photo ID. Applications should be submitted online. Customer application forms can be found on CUC’s website. CUC’s customer service centre is located at Caribbean Plaza on West Bay Road and customer service representatives are available to answer inquiries in person Monday to Friday 9am-4pm (not including public holidays). All other business should be conducted by telephone or email. All customer-related services and offerings can be completed digitally or remotely.

The security deposit required for existing post-paid electricity accounts (billed monthly) is calculated based on the average historical usage of the property for 45 days of consumption. Deposits for newly constructed residential homes/condos are calculated based on square footage and the number of bedrooms.

Electricity Rates

Monthly electricity bills will vary depending on the size of your house condo/apartment, your lifestyle, how often (and cold) you run your air conditioning, the efficiency of your air conditioning unit, the age of the property and how well the property is insulated, among other factors. It is important to note that the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) and regular maintenance of your air conditioning unit can make a big difference in kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption and your monthly electric bill. The lower the SEER, the more energy will be consumed for the same amount of cooling. A SEER of 16 for example, will consume more electricity than a SEER of 18 or higher. Managing your energy usage and getting your air conditioning units serviced regularly will ultimately save you money.

In September 2022, base rates were CI$0.1185 per kWh for residential customers with a monthly facility charge fee of CI$5.82. There is an additional regulatory and licensing fee of CI$0.0051 per kWh, which applies only to usage over 1,000 kWh per month. After factoring in the surcharges for the cost of fuel, fuel duty and energy purchased from third-party sources, which change monthly and are passed through to consumers with zero mark-up, the effective residential rate in September 2022 was approximately CI$0.2669 per kWh. All current electricity billing rates are available on CUC’s website.

The cost of electricity is the same Island-wide and does not fluctuate depending on the time of day. Bill payments are not accepted at the customer service centre, but details on the numerous payment methods are listed under ‘Payment Methods’ on the Company’s website.