Author Archive

PUBLIC NOTICE Extension PUBLIC CONSULTATION – Renewable Energy Self Generation (RESG) Projects Propose Guidelines

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), advises the public that the deadline to submit responses to URCA’s Renewable Energy Self Generation, RESG Projects Propose Guidelines, Consultation Document, ES 05/2019, has been extended to November 30, 2019. URCA reminds the public that responses to the said Consultation Document can be sent via email to info@urcabahamas.bs, faxed to (242) 393-0237/393-0153, mailed to P.O. Box N-4860 or hand delivered to the URCA office situated at Frederick House, Frederick Street, New Providence to the attention of the Director of Utilities and Energy. URCA issues this Notice in accordance with section 41(4) of the…

Read More

Press Release – Wholesale Fixed and Mobile Termination Rates for SMP Licensees – Preliminary Determination

Today, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) published on its website the first-round responses received to its Preliminary Determination on Wholesale Fixed and Mobile Termination Rates for SMP Licensees (ECS 67/2019). On 12 September 2019, URCA launched a two-round consultation process in respect of the captioned regulatory measure. With the publication of first-round responses on its website, URCA now invites written comments on the views expressed by BTC, CBL and Aliv in their first-round responses on the Preliminary Determination. Copies of the Preliminary Determination and all first-round responses may be downloaded here. Persons who wish to express opinions on…

Read More

Guidelines for the Approval of Renewable Energy Self-Generation Projects

Today the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority, URCA, released the proposed guidelines for the approval of Renewable Energy Self-Generation Projects referred to as RESG projects.  The consultation document pertains to small commercial and government owned projects and is in keeping with URCA’s mandate to promote the increased use of renewable energy in The Bahamas.  Once approved and implemented, the guidelines will allow businesses and Government agencies to apply for and obtain URCA’s approval to install larger renewable generation systems with up to 1 megawatt capacity on their properties. The guidelines proposed by URCA include a detailed definition of an RESG…

Read More

ECS 67/2019 – Wholesale Fixed and Mobile Termination Rates for SMP Licensees – Preliminary Determination

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) has published on its website, for comment, a Preliminary Determination on “Wholesale Fixed and Mobile Termination Rates for SMP Licensees” in The Bahamas. The document alerts stakeholders to URCA’s preferred approach for deriving cost-oriented rates for termination services in The Bahamas. Termination services are wholesale services that all operators providing voice or SMS messaging services must purchase from each other in order to allow their customers to communicate with customers on other public networks. For this reason, all Licensees who operate their own network infrastructure to provide fixed or mobile voice and messaging…

Read More