The Opposition has queried whether the island’s designs for its energy supply will be ready in time, after the Integrated Resource Plan got put on hold over the summer by Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs.

Ms Lightbourne suspended the IRP for up to 18 months on July 3, telling the House of Assembly it was necessary to bring electricity planning in line with “the economic reality Bermudians live with and the Government’s policy to reduce energy costs”.

Belco, the power supply company, launched an appeal against the decision last month in the Supreme Court — as did the independent Regulatory Authority. The IRP’s suspension came three days after it got approved and published on the RA’s website.

Ms Lightbourne had stated that the National Electricity Sector Policy 2026 needed to be finalised and fully aligned with the plan — but Dwayne Robinson, the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, said the move risked missing “the investment window for implementing the objectives of NESP 2026”.

The minister’s ability to put IRP planning on hold by invoking public interest came about in June, when legislators approved the Electricity Amendment Act 2026.

A response from the Progressive Labour Party called Mr Robinson’s statement “rich in outrage but poor in solutions”.

Mr Robinson said: “With the potential legality challenges of the IRP suspension instituted by the minister, Bermudians need to receive a timeline on when the revised IRP 2026 will be finalised and when they can expect relief regarding their energy bills.”

The opposition MP said residents were confronting “substantial electricity costs”, with the issue compounded by changes to the island’s electricity rates, implemented by the RA and effective from August 1, which imposed more expense on residents connected to rooftop solar generators.

Mr Robinson questioned how the Government planned to “renew the public sentiment in solar”, claiming there were users “considering removing their solar panels” because of the switch.

He added: “Bermuda’s energy transition to more renewable energy will require a lot of investment. How will we acquire the necessary investment if Government continues to shift its benchmarks and reserves the right to override a finalised IRP process?

“Bermuda needs Belco to invest in utility-wide solar to reduce customers’ exposure to external price shocks. Solar energy needs to be more widely accessible, such as plug-in solar panels that are being utilised overseas.

“The working population needs to increase so that the costs to maintain the electrical grid can be spread across more people, with less ministerial interference in the IRP process.”

Mr Robinson commended changes to the Regulatory Authority that would put it more in “consumers’ favour”.

“However, if the minister retains the power to override our independent regulator, the process is not truly independent,” he said.

The PLP said last night: “The reality is that the minister acted to ensure Bermuda gets an energy plan that delivers for consumers, not one that simply locks in costs and limits future opportunities.

“The Government has been clear that renewable energy remains a priority, alongside reducing electricity costs and strengthening regulatory oversight.

“Bermudians deserve a responsible energy transition, not political soundbites designed to create uncertainty. The focus should be on securing the best outcome for families and businesses, not rushing through a process simply because the Opposition demands it.”