Significant generation of electricity – independently of Belco – is being investigated by the island’s Regulatory Authority.

But the scenarios up for review would not allow an entity generating its own power to hook up to the island’s electricity grid.

The idea is contained in the Large Scale Self Supply Licence Preliminary Report from the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda which is out for public consultation.

Responses are due before midnight on December 6.

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2021 11 05_LSSS Licence Preliminary Report.pdf

The report is aimed at equipping the RA to rule on licensing for significant power generation outside the utility company.

So far, Belco holds the island’s only licence to transmit, distribute and retail electricity.

The RA report comes in the wake of a consultation document issued in March – which received a single response from Belco.

Bermuda’s first energy blueprint, the integrated resource plan, was published in 2019, and the report noted that a second IRP will be requested by the authority in the coming fiscal year.

It also stated that Belco had requested details on the types of energy technologies envisaged for self-supply of power under the IRP.

But the RA said only that the relevant information would be given to the utility company “at the appropriate time”.

The authority said Belco had raised the issue of “inadvertent connection to the grid”, which could affect power supply.

The RA acknowledged there could be situations in which access to a licence holder’s property might be necessary, adding that “ if required, the RA would designate Belco staff on a case-by-case basis”.

The report does not stipulate specific types of power generation to be covered under self-supply, although it contains a single reference to renewable energy.

It rules out the sale of electricity, or the transportation of power – known as “wheeling” – as well as its transmission or distribution outside the premises of the licence holder.

Licence holders would be required to maintain the necessary resources to “carry on its large scale self-supply”, along with complying with its licence obligations.