A Regulatory Authority of Bermuda fee that is added to Belco electricity bills has been increased temporarily.

The charge has risen from 0.475 of a cent per kilowatt hour, to 0.635 of a cent per kWh. The Royal Gazette asked how long the temporary increase would last, and was told: “The temporary fee increase is to cover the first phase of the procurement of the wind farm, which is expected to be completed within two years’ time, and for the introduction of new types of electricity.”

In a statement, the RA said the increase was to ensure the delivery of Bermuda’s first Integrated Resource Plan, “which is intended to deliver 85 per cent renewable energy by 2036”.

It is the first increase in the Regulatory Authority fee since 2016, and was effective from April 1. It will be directly used to implement new electricity tariffs and fund a series of wind studies, the RA said.

Denton Williams, chief executive for the RA, said: “A lack of funding in the previous fiscal year hampered the development of the IRP’s wind-farm project.

“The first phase for the procurement of the wind-farm is expected to be completed within two years’ time and includes a series of desktop and meteorological studies. The wind-farm and other renewable energy projects will help to stabilise the cost of electricity, provide opportunities for jobs and training to support Bermuda’s economy, and deliver safe and reliable energy for our children and subsequent generations.”