Someone needs to explain how customers can run up arrears with BEC when they were coming around disconnecting every two weeks. Some consumers got so faustrated te jus decided to leve the light off because everytime they pay they would get another bill. Now BTC seems to be doing the same thing. A customer would go in and pay and get a reciept showing one balance. Then they would get voice mail from BTC saying that thei account is overdue and would be disconnected. Then when you go in to pay they would tell you the balance is way more than the balance you got when you made the last payment. And is you ask them to expainthe difference they would tell you something like 'twobills came out in the same month".. Well if you were paying all along why does two bills have to come out at once?

Where is the discount (reward!) for us customers who pay our bill in full and on time?

Those who pay in full during the months of JUNE, JULY and AUGUST will receive a 2% discount. Those who pay off their arrears will receive a 10% discount on the arrears. For a cash strapped company at least it is better than coming around disconnecting you every two weeks Hopes it work for all our benefit.

Two things about this story stand out:
1. Government seems to be constantly rewarding people who *do not* pay their bills. Property tax and BEC, maybe next it will National Insurance rewards for non payments.
2. Isn't it ironic that Leslie Miller is making this announcement?

Ironic indeed. However, he 'll get the 10% discount and still owe a huge balance.

Mr Speaker I submit the following to curb down and jostle the increasing plaque of crime in the islands in the sun.
Initiate a "Gun buy back" program or start an amnesty for a period to last not longer than "90 days" and take guns of the streets, using various churches as a backdrop.
Also start neighborhood curfews and put "A visible Foot policemen on every street and investigation as to set up a databank as to where these "weapons" i.e guns are coming from and by whom.
Also offer a Reward for all murders and put a moving truck in the communities that broadcast the information and keep confidentiality of all who give up information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thugs.
Mr Speaker whats your view?

All of us who have been paying our bills on time, whether it be BEC, Real Property Tax, National Insurance, Business License or whatever, are foolish imbeciles. The Government's message is loud and clear: DO NOT PAY ANY SUCH BILLS AND GOVERNMENT WILL LATER REWARD YOU HANDSOMELY FOR NOT DOING SO. ONLY A COMPLETE MORON WOULD THROW AWAY REWARDS THAT GOVERNMENT WILL EVENTUALLY PAY YOU FOR NOT PAYING YOUR BILLS!

Government may even force the banks, unions and insurance companies to give us a hefty financial reward for not paying our mortgage loans on time......the more the arrears the bigger the reward will eventually be! This is great news for all of us who are in dire need of financial relief. Government itself will soon be forced to stop servicing (paying) the national debt its owes to foreign financial institutions and lending agencies......but no worry here because our Government is surely convinced it will somehow be rewarded for not paying its debts when they become due!

why cant they give 10% for paying on time and 2% off in arrears.

Mind, one time I was going to be out of town for 3 months and paid batelco in advance.

They disconnected me!!! I paid a penalty for paying in advance!!!!

This is a PERFECT time for Mr. Miller to pay off some of HIS arrears!!

I do agree...the CURRENT customers should be getting a higher discount than the ones in arrears, prmote the fact that keeping yourself current offers you more benefit!!

Absolutely astounding.

Mr. Miller, what happened to the pie in the sky scheme to have everyone make payment arrangements and have all 7,000 accounts reconnected by June 1st?

Guess you discovered that most of these people are unemployed/underemployed and simply unable to pay.

Government needs to stop playing games and get on with a solar net metering program which will allow ALL 7,000 disconnected accounts to be not only reconnected but also producing power for the grid at a profit.

All this other nonsense just proves government is totally out of touch with reality.

Stop the BS and get on with it!

Perhaps Mr. Miller should take advantage of this new incentive to pay off the tens of thousands in arrears on his home and business that have been left unpaid since PLP returned to power.