Belco and the Regulatory Authority have launched legal action over a decision last month to suspend the Integrated Resource Plan.

Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, suspended the IRP — a blueprint used in efforts to make sure that the island has a reliable, cost-effective and sustainable electricity supply — on July 6, three days after it was approved and published to the RA’s website.

She explained that the suspension was intended to allow the Government’s electricity policy, the National Electricity Sector Policy 2026, to be finalised and fully aligned with the plan.

At a hearing in the Supreme Court yesterday, counsel for Belco stated that the power company had launched an appeal against the suspension.

The court heard that the RA, which oversees the electricity sector, had subsequently launched its own appeal. It was proposed that both could be heard together.

Jennifer Haworth, for Belco, asked the court to allow the case to move forward with urgency. She said that the suspension had caused uncertainty with real consequences for Belco and the market as a whole.

However, Jordan Knight, for the minister, said there was no evidence in the filings to justify the need for urgency and suggested another hearing later this month to give all the parties time to consider the case.

Chief Justice Larry Mussenden allowed a short extension of time, scheduling the matter to return to the court next week for directions.

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