Press Release | April 12th, 2010
LUCELEC DONATES $10,000.00 EACH TO BLIND WELFARE ASSOCIATION & SALVATION ARMY
LUCELEC Financial Controller Earl Estrado (left) presents cheque to President of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association Martin Weekes |
St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) today donated ten thousand dollars (EC$10,000) each to the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association and the Salvation Army.
The donations are contributions towards the respective organisation's programmes for 2010. For the Blind Welfare Association, the support is for social and educational assistance to blind and visually impaired children. |
The donation to the Salvation Army is towards its Meals on Wheels programme that provides food for the underprivileged.
LUCELEC has been a regular supporter of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association over the years, particularly in relation to the Kids In Sight project, either directly through the Association or through the Lions Club which provides support for that project. The Company has also contributed to various activities of the Salvation Army in the past.
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LUCELEC Financial Controller Earl Estrado (left) presents cheque to
Captain Jonathan Kellman (right) and Reginald Cherebin (centre) of the Salvation Army
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The power company says such contributions to the social and economic development of St. Lucia is an important part of its way of doing business, and is enshrined in the Company’s mission statement.
The donations were made through the LUCELEC Trust Company Inc., a non-profit company which LUCELEC has set up to manage its donations. |
In 2009, the Trust disbursed more than half a million dollars to various schools, sporting bodies, charitable, medical and religious institutions, and to programmes that sought to provide support to the elderly and youth at risk.
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Press Release | Feb 16th, 2010
LUCELEC CONTINUES TO SUPPORT NATIONAL SCHOOLS SCIENCE FAIR
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The St. Lucia Electricity Services Ltd (LUCELEC) is once again throwing its support behind the Annual National Schools Science and Technology Fair. The power company gave a cheque of over ten thousand dollars to the Ministry of Education today, towards this year’s Science Fair. |
In making its Gold Sponsor contribution to the 2010 Science Fair, LUCELEC’s Corporate Communications Manager, Roger Joseph, said the power company is committed to making such investments in the future of students, the country and the world.
“The utility business is long term by nature. Our investment in the National Science Fair is a reflection of this. We see beyond the student and the experiments they produce each year to recognise the scientists and breakthrough technologies of the future. It is forums such as the National Science and Technology Fair that encourage young people to stretch the boundaries of their imagination, find new ways of doing things, and new things to do, which may eventually change all our lives in the future. And LUCELEC is proud to be a part of providing such opportunities,” he added.
The 2010 National Schools Science and Technology Fair will be held from March 24 – 26, at the Beausejour Cricket Ground under the theme “Building Global Bridges through Science and Technology”.
Press Release | Feb 16th, 2010
LUCELEC HAS NEW CHAIRMAN
Marius St. Rose Retires
Dr. Trevor Byer |
The St. Lucia Electricity Services Ltd (LUCELEC) has announced the appointment of a new Chairman - Dr. Trevor Byer. Dr. Byer, who brings 30 years of experience in the power industry, assumed his post on January 1, 2010. He will serve in this capacity until 2011 at which time he will be eligible for re-election. Dr. Byer replaces Mr. Marius St. Rose, who demitted office as Chairman effective December 31, 2009, having served more than 10 years in the position.
Addressing LUCELEC’s recent Staff Appreciation Night, Dr. Byer praised LUCELEC as one of the top power companies in the Caribbean basin.
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According to Dr. Byer, LUCELEC has been an industry leader for the past 30 years, and its prominence is only matched by that of Barbados Light and Power Company.
In his remarks, Dr. Byer promised that LUCELEC would forge ahead to remain in the front lines of power companies in the region. He sees LUCELEC, and other private electric utilities, as playing a lead role in the developing capital markets in the Caribbean. He believes that as regulated institutions with stable price shares, they are among the most secure equity investments that any Caribbean national can make.
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Marius St. Rose |
In addition, he views LUCELEC as “magnificently poised” to benefit from upcoming developments in the power industry, while remaining a leader in human resource development. “The next couple of years are going to be even greater than what we have achieved in this year. Not only in terms of the company’s performance, but also what we saw in terms of the performance of staff,” said Dr. Byer.
The new Chairman also paid tribute to his predecessor, Marius St. Rose, for having steered LUCELEC through many turbulent times and credited him with moving the company forward during his long tenure. |
Dr. Byer is an energy consultant. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in December 2008, representing minority shareholders. Dr. Byer holds an M.A. and PhD in Nuclear Physics from Cambridge University. He is the Chairman of the Intra-Caribbean Gas Pipeline Company (ICGPC) and a Director/Partner of the Eastern Caribbean Gas Pipeline Company (ECGPC) and of the Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists (ACES). Dr. Byer has worked with a number of regional and international institutions including the World Bank, where he was Chief of Energy Policy Strategy Division and Advisor in the Industry and Energy Department. Other past positions include Regional Energy Advisor to the Caribbean Development Bank and the CARICOM Secretariat, Director of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, and Energy Advisor to the Government of Jamaica.
Meanwhile, Mr. Laurie Barnard has been appointed Director representing minority shareholder interest to fill the vacancy left by Mr. St. Rose’s resignation. Mr. Barnard will face re-appointment at the Annual Shareholders Meeting scheduled for May 7, 2010.
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Press Release | Feb 16th, 2010
LUCELEC TO RELOCATE RODNEY BAY OFFICE
More Spacious Accommodations for Customers
The St. Lucia Electricity Services Ltd (LUCELEC) is relocating its Rodney Bay office this weekend. The Company says this Friday, February 19, will be the last day of business at its Rodney Bay office, currently located at the Rodney Bay Marina.
The operations of the Rodney Bay office will be relocated to the first floor of the Providence Commercial Centre in Rodney Bay (located between the J. Q. Charles Rodney Bay Mall and the Bay Gardens Hotel). The office will be open for business at its new premises on Tuesday, February 23, 2010.
LUCELEC’s Customer Service Manager Jennifa Flood-George says the move was necessary to facilitate the increased customer traffic at the Rodney Bay Marina. She explains that the new location will provide more space, more Customer Service Representatives and faster service for customers, and much improved facilities for staff.
“The office at the Rodney Bay Marina could no longer comfortably handle the volume of customer traffic there. We needed, therefore, a location that would accommodate the increasing numbers we were seeing, as well as one that would allow us to have more Customer Service Representatives available to the public. We expect that the entire customer experience will be improved at the new location,” she added.
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Press Release | Dec 03rd, 2009
LUCELEC SUPPORTS CICERON SECONDARY’S PASTORAL CARE PROGRAMME
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LUCELEC has placed its support behind the Ciceron Secondary School’s Pastoral Care Programme. The Power Company has donated $3,500 to the programme that seeks to provide basic needs such as uniforms, books, lunches, and bus fare to students at the school who are in need. |
School Principal Leota Charlemagne says the programme has been running since the school opened six years ago. The programme identifies children in need and the school raises funds through cake sales and other activities to get money to support children in need to allow them to have the best opportunity to learn. Beyond the basic needs, the programme has also assisted with paying CXC examination fees for some students.
LUCELEC made the donation to the school on Thursday, in response to a request for help. In making the presentation, the Company’s Corporate Communications Manager Roger Joseph said this was just the latest example of LUCELEC’s Power of Caring in action. He noted that for 2009, through the LUCELEC Trust which manages the Company’s donations, LUCELEC has actively supported initiatives that target youth at risk.
For example, he explained, LUCELEC supported the Community Action Programme for Safety’s (CAPS) Swim to Change programme where underprivileged children from Marchand, Wilton’s Yard, and Grass Street are getting the opportunity to learn to swim at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre. Similarly, LUCELEC has partnered with the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ministry of Social Transformation and the St. Lucia School of Music, to develop a youth orchestra and a centre for teaching orchestra music for youth at risk drawn from the Marchand Community.
LUCELEC has also provided scholarships for underprivileged young people to attend the Valley Soccer Academy, assisted the St. Lucia Diabetic and Hypertensive Association with providing testers for children with diabetes, and contributed to the establishment of a library at the Morne du don Primary School, among other initiatives throughout the year that sought to improve the quality of life for youth at risk.
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Press Release | Dec 02nd, 2009
LUCELEC SUPPORTS CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS
The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) has responded to a call for private sector support for the construction of a police substation in Rodney Bay. The Power Company will contribute twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) to the project.
The proposed substation will be built in the area popularly referred to as the “Ramp” on the site of the old Cat’s Whiskers Pub, on land owned by the Government of Saint Lucia. It is expected to serve as an operational centre for better policing of the Rodney Bay area.
The re-establishment of a dedicated police substation in the area is seen as critical to efforts to ensure safety and security in Rodney Bay which is a commercial, recreational, entertainment and residential hub in the north of the island. Several agencies, including the St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA), the Royal St. Lucia Police Force, the Government of Saint Lucia through the Ministry of Home Affairs, and various Rodney Bay community groups and associations, have come together to partner in this venture.
LUCELEC’s contribution represents one-sixth of the anticipated project cost to build and equip the substation. In supporting this venture, LUCELEC’s Managing Director Trevor Louisy said, “We see this contribution as the furtherance of our mission wherein we seek to be a catalyst for social and economic development in Saint Lucia. The Company recognises how critical safety and security for citizens is to that process.”
Mr. Louisy noted too that the Company’s support for this venture is another example of LUCELEC’s model of doing business; a model based on partnerships between the Company, other private and public sector interests, and communities.
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Press Release | Sept 16th, 2009
LUCELEC DONATES ¼ MILLION DOLLARS TO ST. JUDE’S HOSPITAL
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The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) has donated a quarter of a million dollars to the St. Jude’s Hospital Restoration Fund. The cheque was presented to Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King on Wednesday. |
In making the presentation, LUCELEC Managing Director Trevor Louisy said the Company has a long tradition of caring for the community in which it operates and this contribution to the St. Jude’s Hospital restoration effort is just one of the tangible ways in which LUCELEC expresses that care.
“We hope that some of the funds can be used for dealing with the immediate needs of the hospital, but that the majority will go towards the reconstruction effort. LUCELEC recognises the valuable contribution that St. Jude’s makes to health care in St. Lucia, particularly in the south of the island, where the Company has a substantial presence in terms of staff and contractors,” Louisy added.
LUCELEC’s support for health care, Louisy noted, includes an annual contribution $25,000 to the National Community Foundation (NCF) to assist with providing support to persons in need of medical assistance. Only recently, he said, the Company met the cost of nearly $50,000 for improvements to the power supply for the Intensive Care Unit and the Operating Theatres at Victoria Hospital.
In accepting the cheque, Prime Minister King expressed his government’s gratitude for LUCELEC’s donation and for the extensive support for the St. Jude’s hospital restoration effort that the government has been receiving from the corporate sector, friendly governments, regional and international agencies and individuals.
He revealed that LUCELEC’s donation brought the total amount raised directly through the Prime Minister’s Office to $855,000 to date. Further, he noted, the government had received a proposal for the reconstruction of the hospital from one friendly government which offered to sponsor one wing of the hospital once the master plan for the reconstruction had been finalised.
According to Prime Minister King, a team from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) headed by the Regional Director was also arriving in St. Lucia this week to assist with the conceptualisation of a new facility that will take into consideration the future demands on the hospital.
LUCELEC’s donation was made through its non-profit Trust Company (LUCELEC Trust Company Inc.) which was established in 2005 expressly for the purpose of providing financial assistance to religious, charitable, medical and educational institutions, and sporting bodies. To date, the LUCELEC Trust has disbursed more than one million dollars in donations.
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Press Release | Aug 24th, 2009
26 GET LUCELEC SCHOLARSHIPS
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Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) presented 26 scholarships to eligible children of LUCELEC employees over the weekend. Ten of the recipients are new entrants into the Company’s scholarship programme. The other 16 are continuing in the programme. |
The programme has been in existence since 1985 and awards deserving students a full scholarship covering books, school supplies, uniforms, tuition and other fees, customized school bags and notebooks.
The scholarship programme covers the five years at secondary school and the two years at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, providing the recipients maintain good academic performances.
Since its inception over 85 students have benefited from the programme and the number of beneficiaries has increased from one student a year, to three and now five.
This year the company was pleased to announce that an exception was made, where ten students were awarded scholarships due to the high performance of all the applicants at the Common Entrance Examinations. This brings the total number of students currently receiving company scholarships to twenty-six (26).
In addition, the Company for the first time, also awarded a grant to each the four students completing the scholarship programme and proceeding to University, as a reward for their outstanding performance throughout the entire seven year programme.
The scholarships were presented recently at the Company’s fourth annual Scholarship Social held at its Cul de Sac Compound. The activity is staged to celebrate the achievements of the outstanding performers of the scholarship programme, as well as to give the students the opportunity to interact with each other and with LUCELEC personnel in a less formal setting.
LUCELEC’s Managing Director Trevor Louisy congratulated all the recipients and encouraged the students to excel in their endeavours. This, he added, was just one of the many ways the Company contributes to the academic, economic and social development of the country.
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Press Release | Aug 24th, 2009
LUCELEC AWARDS 2ND BERNARD THEOBALDS SCHOLARSHIP
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The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) has awarded the 2nd Bernard C. Theobalds Scholarship to Miss Malaika Abigail Pascal.
The Bernard C. Theobalds Scholarship was established by LUCELEC in 2004 in recognition of the contribution made by its former Managing Director during his 26 years of service and is intended to encourage students to pursue an education at the University of the West Indies for a career in the field of Engineering.
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The scholarship is open to all Saint Lucians and is awarded once every 3 years.
The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) has awarded the 2nd Bernard C. Theobalds Scholarship to Miss Malaika Abigail Pascal.
The Bernard C. Theobalds Scholarship was established by LUCELEC in 2004 in recognition of the contribution made by its former Managing Director during his 26 years of service and is intended to encourage students to pursue an education at the University of the West Indies for a career in the field of Engineering. The scholarship is open to all Saint Lucians and is awarded once every 3 years.
This year’s recipient, Miss Pascal, will be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of the West Indies and the scholarship will cover all costs associated with this programme. Miss Pascal was chosen by the BCT Scholarship Committee, not only for her strong academic performance, but also for her active involvement in extracurricular social and community activities. She is a graduate of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (Division of Arts, Science and General Studies) and the St. Joseph’s Convent.
In accepting the scholarship Miss Pascal thanked LUCELEC for the opportunity. “We live in tough economic times when money is harder to come by than in times before. Companies like LUCELEC should therefore be applauded and saluted for their investment in the development of the youth of St. Lucia, which no doubt will lead to the development of the country as a whole,” she said.
LUCELEC’s Assistant Human Resources Manager Miguelle Warner says the Bernard C. Theobalds Scholarship is just one of the many ways that the Company contributes to St. Lucia’s social and economic development. “LUCELEC has always embraced its role in providing Saint Lucians with opportunities to achieve excellence,” she added.
LUCELEC recently awarded 26 scholarships to students pursuing secondary education for the upcoming academic year as well as four grants towards university studies for students graduating out of its secondary school scholarship programme and moving on to university this year.
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Press Release | May 26th, 2009
LUCELEC MAKING FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIABILITY
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LUCELEC is taking steps to further improve its reliability of supply. Over the past few months the Company has been deploying new equipment along its distribution network that will minimise the number and duration of unplanned power outages. The new equipment, called auto reclosers, assist in isolating faults on the 11 kilovolt (kV) distribution system so that a smaller area and fewer customers are affected by power outages if there is a problem on the system. |
They also help LUCELEC identify much more quickly on which section of the network the fault has occurred, thereby reducing the time it takes to effect repairs and restore service.
LUCELEC’s Chief Engineer Goodwin d’Auvergne says the first auto recloser was installed on the Canaries Feeder near the Vanard Junction. Since its installation, he explained, the recloser has operated successfully several times to prevent tripping of the Canaries Feeder circuit breaker when trees fell onto the high voltage lines near the Roseau Dam.
“As a result of the operation of the auto recloser, only the Vanard area downstream of the unit experienced an interruption in electricity supply, leaving the remainder of the Canaries circuit unaffected, thus helping to improve reliability. In effect, only about nine hundred customers were affected by the outages instead of approximately four thousand,” he added.
So far seven auto reclosers have been installed in areas most prone to disruptions on the high voltage system. The units are the first batch to be installed as part of LUCELEC’s Distribution Automation programme.
Mr. D’Auvergne says the auto recloser provides both advanced protection and data logging facilities. The protection functions will be used to improve the reliability of the 11kV distribution system while information on line loading and voltage will be useful for distribution planning and reducing system losses. The units can be monitored and controlled remotely as well.
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Press Release | May 05th, 2009
MORE KUDOS FOR LUCELEC
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Finnish Ambassador Visits ‘Best Maintained Wärtsilä Diesel Power Plant in the World’. LUCELEC’s Power Plant at Cul De Sac continues to receive kudos for its operating and maintenance regime. The latest comes from the Ambassador of Finland to Caracas, Mikko Pyhälä, who visited the plant on April 30 |
LUCELEC’s Power Plant at Cul De Sac continues to receive kudos for its operating and maintenance regime. The latest comes from the Ambassador of Finland to Caracas, Mikko Pyhälä, who visited the plant on April 30.
The Ambassador said LUCELEC’s reputation is much talked about in Finland where Wärtsilä, a world renowned supplier of power plant engines is based, and he felt compelled to visit the power plant. The Ambassador was “deeply impressed by the cleanliness and the excellent performance record” which has brought LUCELEC’s Cul De Sac Power Plant “the distinction of Best Maintained Wärtsilä Power Station in the World”.
Ambassador Pyhälä was accompanied on his visit by Ambassador Kimmo Pulkkinen of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and an official of St. Lucia’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Seven of LUCELEC’s ten diesel engines used in the generation of power are manufactured by Wärtsilä and the company continues to use the LUCELEC Power Plant as a best- practice model for its clients around the world. In April LUCELEC hosted the Acting General Manager of the Trinidad & Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) on a similar visit and discussions are ongoing in relation to attachments for T&TEC staff to gain operational experience with LUCELEC’s maintenance system. Recently, LUCELEC also hosted a large fact-finding delegation from the power company in Guadeloupe.
LUCELEC’s Acting Chief Engineer Goodwin D’Auvergne says the Company is pleased that its operating and maintenance efficiencies are being recognised by its peers within the industry. Such efficiencies, he notes, are fundamental to LUCELEC achieving its vision of being a world class provider of energy by 2015.
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Press Release | March 19th, 2009
LUCELEC SIGNS ON TO PILOT SOLAR POWER PROJECT
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LUCELEC and Solar St. Lucia Limited have joined forces on a pilot project to facilitate the introduction of grid-tied small photovoltaic (PV) systems. Representatives of the two companies have signed off formally on the agreement that will govern the pilot project. |
The main aim of the pilot project is to allow LUCELEC to assess various issues surrounding the operation of the photovoltaic systems on the grid, including safety, power quality, protection, interconnection and metering.
LUCELEC has been working with Solar St. Lucia Limited (SOLLUCIA) for almost a year to get this project going. According to LUCELEC’s Business Development Manager, Victor Emmanuel, the systems range in size from 1 kilowatt (kW) to 10kW and are targeted at the residential customer who wants to use solar energy to generate part of his electricity needs.
“The benefit of being tied to the grid is that costly storage batteries are not needed. During periods of sunshine the power that is produced in excess of the customer’s needs will, in effect, be stored on the LUCELEC grid for use during the night when the photovoltaic system in not producing,” he added.
Under the agreement Solar St. Lucia Limited will provide and set up the PV systems at up to ten locations around the island while LUCELEC will facilitate the connections to the grid and monitor and record the operational data. The pilot project is expected to end mid August.
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Press Release | March 18th, 2009
LOWEST ELECTRICITY UNIT RATES IN 4 YEARS
This month LUCELEC customers will pay the lowest unit rate for electricity in four years. That’s because the base tariff for electricity for 2008 for all categories of customers has been reduced by 13.8 cents per unit.
The tariff reduction continues a trend that began in August last year which has seen six successive reductions in the unit rate that LUCELEC customers pay for electricity.
The St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) announced this week that lower world market prices for oil at the end of last year resulted in the price LUCELEC paid for fuel in December (EC$4.8729 per gallon) being much lower than the average price paid for 2007 (EC$7.1862 per gallon) resulting in what is effectively a negative fuel surcharge for the second successive month. When that happens, the surcharge registers as zero on customers’ bills and the base tariff is reduced by an equivalent amount.
LUCELEC’s Managing Director Trevor Louisy says the rate applied to bills for January for the first 180 units for domestic customers equates to 59 cents per unit. He notes that the last time domestic customers paid this unit rate was in January of 2005.
The tariff rates for the various categories of customers for January 2009 are as follows:
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2008
Tariff
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Tariff
Reduction |
Cost |
| Rates per Electrical Unit |
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EC$ |
EC$ |
EC$ |
| Domestic |
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1-180 |
0.728 |
(0.138) |
0.590 |
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>180 |
0.778 |
(0.138) |
0.640 |
| Commercial/Hotel/Industrial |
Low Tension |
all units |
0.878 |
(0.138) |
0.740 |
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High Tension |
all units |
0.838 |
(0.138) |
0.700 |
| Streetlighting |
|
all units |
0.873 |
(0.138) |
0.735 |
According to the LUCELEC Managing Director electricity rates have declined by 45% from the high in July 2008 when oil prices hit record highs, and the rate at the start of this year is nearly 29% lower than the rate at the start of 2008. However, Mr. Louisy warns that the decline in world oil prices appears to have bottomed out and further declines may be unlikely. Customers, he suggests, should continue with energy conservation practices.
View graphs from the following links:
Fuel Surcharge Trend from January 2008 - January 2009
Unit Rate Trend for Domestic Customers (1 - 180 units) January 2008 - January 2009
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Press Release | November 16th, 2008
LUCELEC GIVES $80 THOUSAND TO THE NATIONAL TRUST
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The St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) has made a donation of more than eighty thousand dollars to the St. Lucia National Trust. The money is to go towards upgrading the electrical system at the Pigeon Island National Landmark to ensure public safety. The donation was formalised in a brief cheque presentation ceremony at LUCELEC’s offices in Sans Souci on Wednesday, November 12. |
In presenting the cheque to the National Trust, LUCELEC’s Managing Director Trevor Louisy noted that project fulfilled several of LUCELEC’s strategic priorities. “The promotion of safety, the preservation of the environment, the sustainable use of the country’s natural, historical and cultural assets, and contributing to St. Lucia’s social and economic development are all fundamental aspects of how LUCELEC measures not only its corporate social responsibility thrust, but its own performance as well,” he added.
The cheque ($81,323.40) was received by the Chairman of the National Trust, Andy Lake, who commended LUCELEC for seeking out ways to improve the environment in which it operates. He called on corporate St. Lucia to emulate LUCELEC’s example.
The donation was made through the LUCELEC Trust Company Inc., a non-profit company through which LUCELEC manages its charitable donations. The LUCELEC Trust has disbursed more than eight hundred thousand dollars in charitable donations to various entities since it began operations in 2006.
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Press Release | November 16th, 2008
LUCELEC POWER PLANT WELCOMES THE GOVERNOR GENERAL
Governor General Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy is impressed with LUCELEC’s Power Plant at Cul De Sac. The Governor General’s comment came at the end of a recent familiarisation visit to the plant.
Photo Gallery - Click on photo for larger view.
The visit was arranged at the request of Her Excellency who said her curiosity had been piqued after she had heard so many glowing tributes about the facility from all quarters. Dame Pearlette noted that very positive comments made by visiting delegates at the opening of the Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation (CARILEC) Chief Executives Conference, which she attended earlier in the year, prompted her to see for herself the operations at the power plant.
Although admitting that she was far from an expert on such matters, the Governor General understood why the engine manufacturers and Chief Executives from other regional and international electric utilities were so impressed with LUCELEC’s operating and maintenance regime for the power plant. The nearly pristine condition of both the plant and the engines were far from what she imagined large diesel engines to look like, she said.
Dame Pearlette commended LUCELEC’s Managing Director Trevor Louisy and his staff for the professionalism, efficiency, and depth of knowledge which was so apparent during her visit. She was pleased too that she recognised several of the management team as having gone through the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (or the A Level College) during her tenure there as a Lecturer and Principal.
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Press Release | November 13th, 2008
FUEL SURCHAGE COMES DOWN TO 4.4 CENTS!
Lowest Surcharge Since July 2007
The St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) announces another significant reduction in the fuel surcharge. The surcharge applied to electricity bills for November is now down to 4.4 cents per kilowatt/hour (or per unit), the lowest surcharge levels since July last year. This latest reduction is the third successive significant drop in the fuel surcharge and is nearly 13 cents less than the surcharge applied to electricity bills last month.
These reductions in the fuel surcharge come as world market prices for crude oil have dropped to well below US$70 per barrel in October after reaching record highs of US$147 per barrel in July this year.
The fuel surcharge reductions mean LUCELEC’s customers are reaping the benefits of the pass-through fuel cost mechanism applicable under the Electricity Supply Act. For example, a domestic customer who used 200 units of electricity in July would have paid about $216. For the same consumption (200 units) for the current billing period, that customer would pay about $155, a savings of about $61. The savings are even more significant for commercial, hotels and industrial customers who use considerably more electricity. For a commercial, hotel or industrial customer using 20 thousand units the savings would be approximately $6,000.
LUCELEC cautions, however, that customers should continue to practice energy efficiency measures as the indications are that after falling to below US$62 per barrel, oil prices have begun climbing again, albeit slowly.
Click here for graph showing the fuel surcharge trend from January to November 2008.
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Press Release | October 16th, 2008
FUEL SURCHAGE COMES DOWN AGAIN
Lowest Surcharge Levels Since April This Year
Castries, October 16, 2008 – The fuel surcharge applied to electricity bills is being reduced once again. The surcharge to be applied to bills for October 2008 is 17.1 cents per kilowatt/hour (or per unit). This is nearly six cents less than the surcharge applied to last month’s electricity bills.
The 17.1 cents surcharge is the lowest since April this year, and is less than half of the 34.6 cents surcharge applied to bills for July, after crude oil prices hit record highs in June.
This is the second successive significant reduction in the fuel surcharge applied monthly to electricity bills and have come in the wake of declining world market prices for crude oil in recent weeks.
The St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) says the reduction in the price it pays for diesel is welcomed as these savings are passed directly and entirely to customers. The Company expects that the lower surcharges combined with energy efficiency measures will go a long way towards reducing electricity bills.
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Press Release | October, 2008
LUCELEC HONOURS RETIREES
LUCELEC has been paying tribute to its retirees. The Company recently brought together over 50 of its retired employees, their family members and LUCELEC staff, in a special function held at Stony Hill to socialize and network. The former employees, many of whom served the company for over 25 years, had not met in such a gathering since leaving LUCELEC.
Photo Gallery - Click on photo for larger view.
According to Trevor Louisy Managing Director of LUCELEC, the event was one of the many ways the Company sought to express its gratitude to the former employees, acknowledging that many of them had laid the foundation for the Company’s success as one of the best electric utilities in the region. It was only fitting, he said, to recognise their hard work. Additionally, he noted, the Company’s current staff benefit from keeping in contact with the retirees.
Noting that the event “highlights the importance we place on our staff” LUCELEC’s Human Resource Manager, Nicole Du Boulay, emphasised that the Company maintains regular contact with its retirees. She revealed that retirees can now choose to sign on or continue in the Company’s medical scheme for employees, with LUCELEC making matching contributions.
The retirees, among them Mc Neil Etienne who worked with LUCELEC for 40 years, lauded the Company for the opportunity “to meet and to converse with both past and present employees.” All retirees were presented with a copy of LUCELEC’s 40th Anniversary Coffee Table Book, which traces the development and growth of LUCELEC amidst some historically notable national events.
LUCELEC intends to make the event an annual one.
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MINIMISING THE IMPACT OF RISING FUEL PRICES ‐ LUCELEC’s PERSPECTIVE
The past 12 months has seen unprecedented increases in crude oil prices on the international market resulting in the price paid for fuel by LUCELEC increasing from $7.07 to $13.14 per gallon (an 86% increase). These increases have been reflected also in the fuel cost adjustment factor (fuel surcharge) charged to customers. The escalation for the period April to June, 2008 has been particularly steep, resulting in an increase of approximately 12 ‐ 15% in the average customer electricity bill. It should be noted that rising fuel and electricity prices are not unique to Saint Lucia and virtually every utility company worldwide that depends on fossil fuels for production of electricity is facing the same challenge.
LUCELEC’s approach to this present crisis has been taken in the context of the Company’s corporate social responsibility philosophy and the critical role that the Company sees itself playing in the development of the country, as the sole supplier of electricity. This corporate social responsibility philosophy is built into our mission, vision, and strategic business plan. Our operations are structured such that we consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of our activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. For LUCELEC, this extends beyond the obligation to comply with the law. We voluntarily take steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the society at large. And we have been working assiduously over the years to ensure that Saint Lucia is supplied with a safe, reliable, cost‐effective and competitively priced electricity supply that is accessible to all those in Saint Lucia who want it.
We see our success as inextricably linked to the success of customers and the country. In short, we care. Therefore, the Board and Management of LUCELEC are very concerned about this current fuel and energy crisis and have been actively exploring and pursuing various options for minimising the impact of rising fuel prices on electricity rates, our customers and the country.
However, despite the public pressure to bring some immediate relief to customers, these options and their implications for the various stakeholders need to be carefully considered so that whatever actions that are eventually agreed upon in the short, medium and long term are viable and sustainable. Due caution needs to be exercised to ensure that arbitrary interventions which may in the end have major negative impacts on the customer, the Company, the Government and the country are avoided.
A delegation from the Company met with the Cabinet of Ministers and has submitted a brief identifying the available options and their likely impacts. Some of the more sustainable options presented include intensifying customer education in areas of efficient energy use to encourage customers to implement energy conservation measures, expediting action on all initiatives for generation expansion using alternative technologies and renewable or sustainable sources, reviewing and expanding tax and other concessions for renewable energy and energy efficient Page 1 of 6 products, and the development and implementation of a broad energy policy which sets out targets for energy conservation, demand reduction, reduction of emissions, percentage of power derived from renewable and/or sustainable sources, etc., through which some of these initiatives may be implemented.
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Press Release | June 11, 2008
LUCELEC REBATE NET WIDENED
“Relief for Customers Using up to 180 Units Monthly”
Castries, June 11, 2008 – More consumers are to benefit from the rebates currently being provided by the St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC). Beginning with electricity bills being distributed at present, domestic customers using not more than 180 units per month will pay six cents less per unit.
The expansion of the rebate net to include this new category of customers is consequent upon the Electricity Supply Order 2008 made by the Minister for Finance on June 03, 2008 in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Supply Act. Under the Act LUCELEC is required to set aside 50% of profits above the Company’s allowable rate of return each year for redistribution to qualifying customers. Based on the Company’s financial performance in 2007, an initial sum of nearly $4.8 million is being redistributed this year. Such qualifying customers are identified by the Electricity Supply Act as “industrial and hotel consumers” and “consumers or groups of consumers in need of special protection” as determined by the Minister of Finance.
Industrial and hotel customers have been receiving these rebates since January this year. The rebates to domestic customers using no more than 180 units per month was first announced by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Honourable Stephenson King in his most recent address to the nation (June 4, 2008).
The rebates are being provided at a time when record oil prices have pushed the Fuel Cost Adjustment Factor (fuel surcharge) to a record high of 32.6 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) or per unit, applied to bills currently being distributed.
Despite LUCELEC’s efforts at improving operational efficiencies and productivity, the highly volatile oil market promises little in the way of respite for the Company and its customers. Within the last week oil prices moved to US$135 per barrel, dropped to US$121 and then jumped to a new record high of US$139. Predictions are that oil prices are expected to reach US$150 per barrel by July.
LUCELEC has been exploring several options for using alternative fuels and although some of these plans are at a relatively advanced stage, it will be some time before these translate into rate reductions to the customer. In the meantime, the Company advises customers continue to practice energy efficiency as the most effective and immediate means of controlling expenditure on electricity.
LUCELEC expects to launch an energy efficiency campaign within the coming weeks with a view to getting the public to adjust electricity consumption habits.
Press Release | May 09, 2008
LUCELEC PROVIDES NEARLY $5M IN REBATES TO CUSTOMERS
“Hotel & Industrial Sectors Getting Some Relief”
The St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) has made nearly $4.8 million available for redistribution (as a rebate) to qualifying customers. This means that apart from domestic and commercial customers who are already paying a subsidized rate for electricity, hotel and industrial customers are now getting some relief.
Under the Electricity Supply Act, the St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) is required to set aside 50% of profits above the Company’s allowable rate of return each year. Based on the Company’s financial performance in 2007, nearly $4.8 million is being redistributed to qualifying customers this year. Such qualifying customers are identified by the Electricity Supply Act as “industrial and hotel consumers” and “consumers or groups of consumers in need of special protection” as determined by the Minister of Finance.
As a result of the rebate, hotels and industrial customers will realise a reduction of nearly seven cents on their standard unit rate for electricity. The rebate is being credited to their accounts and is reflected in their monthly bills. Domestic and Commercial customers have always paid a subsidized rate for electricity as the tariffs for these respective groups of customers have always been levied well below the cost of providing service to them.
With fuel prices setting new record highs in 2007, the basic tariff to all categories of customers increased in February by 3.9 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) or approximately 5% to reflect the average price paid for fuel in 2007. This basic rate is independent of the Fuel Cost Adjustment Factor (fuel surcharge) and is reviewed in January of each year. The formula for such adjustments is prescribed by law.
According to LUCELEC’s Managing Director Trevor Louisy, LUCELEC is working relentlessly at improving operational efficiencies and productivity to actually reduce its non-fuel operating costs in real terms. “Over the last five years we have seen our expenditure on fuel rise by 144%. By comparison, the non-fuel component of the tariff for the last ten years has remained relatively constant. In fact, the non-fuel component of the base tariff for 2007 at 40.4 cents per unit is slightly lower than in 1999. In other words, LUCELEC has been keeping the costs that it has direct control over to levels that are below the rate of inflation,” he added.
Mr. Louisy observes that oil prices continue to rise on the international market adversely affecting the price of electricity to the consumer. During the first quarter of 2008 the average price of fuel was already 33.2% over the 2007 average. LUCELEC, he says, has been exploring several options for using alternative fuels. Although some of the company’s plans are at a relatively advanced stage, he notes that it will be some time before these technologies can translate into rate reductions to the customer. In the meantime, he recommends that customers continue to practice energy efficiency as the most effective and immediate means of controlling expenditure on electricity.
LUCELEC expects to launch an energy efficiency campaign within the coming weeks with a view to getting the public to adjust electricity consumption habits. The Managing Director says contrary to popular belief, while the Company must ensure it can meet capital costs for expansion and provide a return on investment to its shareholders, LUCELEC has a duty to its customers, the environment and the country to ensure more sustainable approaches to energy usage. “It is a responsibility we take very seriously and these values are enshrined in our strategic objectives,” he ended.
Click here for chart comparing the non-fuel and fuel components of the tariff (PDF Format)
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