The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is the independent regulator and competition authority for the Electronic Communications Sector (ECS) and the Electricity Sector (ES) in the Bahamas, with powers under the Communications Act, 2009 (“Comms Act”) and the Electricity Act, 2015 (EA) to inter alia, issue regulatory and other measures and monitor and enforce consumer protection standards and conditions. URCA issues this consultation document in accordance with Part VIII of the Comms Act and Section 40 of the EA.

This document comprises URCA’s draft Consumer Protection Regulations (“the Regulations”) for the ECS and the ES which will be applicable to those Licensees who have been issued Individual Operating Licences (IOL), Class Operating Licences Requiring Registration (COLRR), and Public Electricity Suppliers (PES). These Regulations also relate to the protection of consumers and the obligations conferred on such persons when either subscribing to or utilizing electronic communications services or electricity services.

URCA has posed specific questions under this consultation document and therefore invite comments from members of the public, licensees and stakeholders during this consultation process.