A new bill will create a national utilities regulatory commission that will be responsible for ensuring smooth, transparent and fair operations.

Government will soon enact legislation aimed at strengthening the energy sector.

Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, said a consultant is currently examining the electricity act under a World Bank project.

“When the work is completed by September this year, we will have a new draft electricity supply services bill that will replace the electricity supply act and a suite of draft legislation that will govern everything from licensing to wiring, to interconnection, to customer service standards,” he explained.

Dr. Anthony added that there will be further legislative and infrastructural developments in the energy sector to ensure greater fairness and choice for consumers.

“We have developed a new bill to create a national utilities regulatory commission which will regulate both the water and electricity sectors which are responsible for ensuring the smooth, transparent and fair operations of the various operators in these sectors," he said. "At the infrastructure level, we have been working diligently to attract quality independent power producers to generate electricity from renewable sources.”

The Electricity Supply Act gives the Saint Lucia Electricity Services Ltd. an 80 year monopoly on the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. This monopoly is set to end in June 2045.