“IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH EFFECTIVE UTILITIES REGULATION”
We’re The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA)
URCA Background
The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is the independent regulatory authority with responsibility for the Electronic Communications Sector (ECS), the Electricity Sector (ES) and the Natural Gas Sector (NGS) in The Bahamas. The ECS includes fixed and mobile telephone services, spectrum and numbering, broadcasting (including pay television), and Internet services. As the regulator of the ES, URCA’s jurisdiction extends to all entities involved in generating, transmitting, distributing, or supplying electricity to, from, or within The Bahamas.
The legislative foundation for the ECS is outlined in the Communications Act of 2009 and its subsequent amendments, which grant URCA the authority as the independent regulator equipped with the necessary tools and powers for effective regulation. Similarly, the Electricity Act of 2015 empowers URCA to fulfill its regulatory duties concerning the ES. URCA’s regulatory efforts are also shaped by the respective sector policies of the Bahamian government. The Electronic Communications Sector Policy undergoes a review and update every three years in accordance with the Communications Act.
Who We Serve
URCA serves a variety of stakeholders. As regulator, URCA’s work impacts not only the companies and individuals under its regulatory authority but also the consumers that have services with those companies and those otherwise invested in any of the service areas URCA regulates.
URCA’s Board Members
Randol Dorsett
Chairperson
Carlton Smith
Board Member & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Jonathan Hudson
Board Member & Director of Utilities & Energy
Nicole Watkins
Director of Electronic Communications
Paula Adderley
Board Member
Brian Seymour
Board Member
Damara Dillet
General Counsel & Board Secretary
Our Values
Our Vision
A globally respected regulator, championing the interests of people in The Bahamas and of the sectors we regulate
Our Mission
Improving lives through effective utilities regulation
Core Values
The URCA value system comprises seven defining principles that guide URCA’s daily efforts:
- Fairness
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Transparency
- One Team
- People-Centered
- Professionalism
Organizational Structure
URCA is broadly structured into three areas, Operations, Electronic Communications Sector (ECS) and Utility and Energy/Electricity (ES). Operations comprises four functional units: General Counsel, Corporate Communications and Consumer Affairs, Finance, and Human Resources and Administration. The ECS and ES departments, each headed by a director, have skilled staff in economics, engineering/technical, and law.