Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC) is the sole provider of electricity to Grand Cayman.
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. The customer application form can be found on CUC’s website. All customer-related services and offerings are able to be completed digitally and 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 or condos are calculated based on square footage and the number of bedrooms. Customer deposits may be re-evaluated, upon request, following at least six months of regular usage.
Grand Cayman runs on a 120 volt electricity system with three-pin plugs. However, outlets can accommodate a two-pin American plug (see image).
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. Air Conditioning accounts for between 50% and 75% of the electricity consumption in most Grand Cayman homes. The higher the SEER, the less energy will be consumed for the same amount of cooling. A SEER of 20 for example, will consume around 25% less electricity than a SEER of 16 for the same amount of cooling. Managing your energy usage and getting your air conditioning units serviced regularly will ultimately save you money.
As of June 1st, 2024, base rates were CI$0.1321 per kWh for residential customers with a monthly facility charge fee of CI$6.56. There is an additional regulatory and licencing fee of CI$0.0155 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 renewable energy purchased from third party sources, which change monthly and are passed through to consumers with zero mark-up, the effective residential rate in June 2024 was approximately CI$0.3170 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. While bill payments are not accepted at the Customer Service Centre, details on the numerous payment methods are listed under ‘Payment Options’ on CUC’s website. Most customers pay online directly or via online bank payments.