Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) residential consumers may see more than a 10 percent reduction reflected in their September or October electricity billing cycle, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said.

BEC Executive Chairman Leslie Miller has said residential consumers can expect to see a 10 percent reduction in their bills by the end of September.

The reduction is expected to be separate from the natural decrease that tends to follow the summer months.

Davis, whose portfolio includes the corporation, did not commit to a percentage, but said Miller may make an announcement on the matter in the next week or two.

"I met with the board and I am assured by the chairman that by the end of September, and I ask you to check your light bill, that you should see a minimum of a 10 percent decline in your BEC electricity bill," Davis told The Nassau Guardian.

"It may be more. I'll just say 10 percent at this time."

In April, Miller said if the corporation is able to purchase cheaper fuel between then and December, an additional 10 to 15 percent reduction in electricity bills could be realized.

He said at the time that residential consumers should realize the 10 percent reduction by July.

"We are hoping that before the summer really gets hot in July, that we would decrease the cost of electricity by no less than seven to 10 percent to the final consumer, and I believe we are on track to have that done," he said.

"The greatest impediment we have at BEC right now with reducing the cost is the old engines at Clifton and the amount of money the gas turbines burn at Blue Hills."

Miller later gave the end of September as the target date.

The corporation has been in discussions with an international conglomerate to put in place three 42-megawatt slow speed diesel engines at Clifton to realize significant savings, according to Miller.

Prior to an electricity assistance program instituted in July, officials said there were between 5,000 and 6,000 homes in The Bahamas without electricity.

Davis said BEC is committed to ensuring that no person in the country is without power.

The corporation ran a two-tiered program in July and August -- an electricity assistance program and bill payment promotion -- that it hoped would put thousands of customers back on the grid, and result in millions of dollars in revenue collection.

When asked how many disconnected households had signed on to the program and had electricity restored, Davis said consumers are gradually signing on to the plan, but, "I have not been apprised of the result of that as yet."

"What number is back on, I can't say, but I know that there has been an improvement on those and you may hear from the chairman in the next week or two with an announcement with respect to that," he said.

While Miller did not provide figures, he said this month BEC's latest electricity assistance program is going "very well" and the board is pleased with the initiative.

The Nassau Guardian understands that $500,000 of the around $26 million in arrears was collected up to the end of July, despite the corporation's promotion and assistance programs.

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