AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Electric Bill

I think the police should be involved. I believe the upper management of Belize Electric should be criminally charged with fraud. There seems to be no doubt the company is fraudulent and steeling from it's customers out of hundreds of thousands. Start with a petition to put pressure on the police to act.

If BEL is unwilling or unable to explain and correct this, then the Public Utilities Commission should be involved. Aren't they the government body that is supposed to represent the people in matters like this? I would hope those living on the island are pursuing this.

If you call and report the exact reading from the meter, BEL will adjust any "estimated or manual" billing. We always read the meter on the scheduled day for a clear record, after having the need to correct BEL. Now as soon as it we get the online bill, it is easy to cross check the accuracy of the reading. We also scribed the edge of the tag on the meter with a sharpie to prevent unauthorized removal. The bills are now spot on...amazing !

Smart meters have just been installed out in the sticks in Ontario by Ontario Hydro. The meters are read every hour.

How do you know that the meter is working correctly? I think that is one of the problems we are having and for all I know they may be siphoning off electricity somewhere after it gets to our place. I am not accusing anyone I am just having a hard time believing the numbers.

I dont know why you guys & gals dont do as bywarren suggested, get the PUC AND T.C. involved. Ya aint gonna fix it by bitchin about here.

just my 2 bucks worth (inflation)

I asked the BEL desk person in San Pedro about replacing a residential electrical meter.Her response was $18.00 BZ...seems like an easy fix if you doubt the veracity of the existing meter.

I don't believe it is the responsibility of the consumer to determine and pay the expense to find and correct a problem that exists with a utility that is obviously overcharging.
When a business is given a monopoly by the government, it is the responsibility of that government to insure the business is treating and charging the people who rely on that service, and have no other option, a price that is fair to both the company and the consumer.
Having the equipment and the personel that can accurately determine the correct price to charge is not the consumers responsibility.
Given a monoply it is the responsibility of the company and if the company is not willing or able to do that, then the government must intercede since the consumer has no other option.

I love that. It is so true, fair, defensible and .....First World.
No Belize person would ever articulate that aloud because that has not been the case in any instance in their whole lives.

Agreed, and that is why, up to the present, politicians and businesses with a monopoly have been able to rape, not only gringos, but the Belize people.