On 26 September 2019, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) issued a Public Consultation Document (ES 05(B)/2019) in respect of the Guidelines for the Approval of Renewable Energy Self-Generation Projects (RESG) for Small Commercial and Government. This document constitutes URCA’s Statement of Results and Final Decision to the Public Consultation. URCA, as the independent regulator for the Electricity Sector (ES) in The Bahamas, issues this Statement of Results and Final Decision pursuant to section 64 of the Electricity Act, 2015 (EA).

URCA, pursuant to Part V of the Electricity Act, 2015 (EA), is empowered to provide guidelines for the approval of Renewable Energy Self-Generation (RESG) projects. In so doing, URCA must have due regard to the Government’s National Energy Policy (NEP) and Electricity Sector Policy (ESP) objectives, whilst ensuring that the rules and established processes are consistent with applicable legislation. The legal framework for the EA places upon URCA the responsibility to take such action as it may deem necessary to ensure the availability, security and reliability of Renewable Energy (RE) consistent with the NEP.

Purpose of this Statement of Results and Final Decision In this Statement of Result and Final Decision, URCA:

• summarizes the written submissions received to the Public Consultation document (ES: 05(B)/2019) on Guidelines for the Approval of Renewable Energy Self-Generation Projects (RESG) for Small Commercial and Government;
• provides URCA’s analysis of the submissions made by key stakeholders; and
• sets forth URCA’s Final