The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) today issues the Consultation Document “Regulatory Fees for the Electricity Sector in The Bahamas” (ES 05/2016), which explains URCA’s methodology for setting fees and states what fees will be for 2017 in respect of matters subject to URCA’s regulatory jurisdiction under the Electricity Act, 2015 (EA). URCA is issuing this consultation document in compliance with Sections 41, 42 and 43 of the EA, which require URCA to consult the public on measures of public significance. Given that the setting of fees has a significant impact on persons generating, transmitting, distributing, or supplying electricity,…
The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”), today issued its Statement of Results and Final Decision (ECS 41/2016) along with the finalised text of the Quality of Service Regulations, ECS 42/2016 (the “QoS Regulations”). The Regulations are applicable to holders of Individual Operating Licences (IOLs) that provide fixed or fixed wireless telephony services, cellular mobile voice and data services, and internet services, including both legacy services and next-generation services. On 23 December 2015, URCA published its consultation document on "Quality of Service Regulations for Electronic Communications Networks and Services in The Bahamas”, ECS 06/2015, which invited comments from interested parties…
The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) is pleased to publish its Draft Annual Plan for 2017 (URCA 02/2016). This document outlines: A brief review of URCA’s achievements in 2016; URCA’s focus areas and key priorities for 2017; URCA’s key projects for 2017, including its planned consultation schedule for the year; A series of the key performance indicators which URCA shall use to measure its performance during the year; and URCA’s budget for the forthcoming financial year. URCA hereby invites and welcomes comments and submissions from members of the public, licensees and other interested parties on the matters contained in…
URCA issued its Preliminary Determination providing for the implementation of Mobile Number Portability in The Bahamas (ECS 40/2016). The full document is available for download from URCA’s website at www.urcabahamas.bs. Number Portability (NP) enables persons to keep their telephone number(s) when switching providers, and while The Bahamas has benefitted from NP in respect of fixed telephone numbers since December 2013, NP for mobile telephone numbers is being implemented following the introduction of cellular mobile competition. (more…)
