By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power & Light (BPL) denied yesterday that the company is shortchanging Bahamians by spiking electricity prices - while last night many residents were affected by a widespread power outage.

Many residents have complained recently about their higher-than-normal electricity billing in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

In a statement yesterday, BPL apologised for “any confusion” that exists about its billing practices.

The company said it “would like to provide clarification relative to recent electricity bills, specifically October and November 2016.”

“Firstly, BPL advises that there is no rate increase and that electricity bills have decreased as much as 50 per cent in some instances compared to May 2012. This is primarily due to fleet improvements, energy efficiency measures, lower fuel prices and other managerial initiatives.”

BPL said it estimated the October bill because employees were working to restore electricity service to customers post Hurricane Matthew.

“This estimate took into consideration historical usage data specific to each customer’s account. The November bill was calculated from the actual meter reading of the account,” BPL said.

“When customers add the units of electricity (kilowatt hours) consumed in billing periods for October and November, it reflects the actual amount of kilowatt hours used between the previous meter reading date and the most recent meter reading date.”

Former Bahamas Electricity Corporation Executive Chairman Leslie Miller recently accused BPL of “increasing customers’ light bills” to pay “millions of dollars” to foreigners who came to help restore power after Hurricane Matthew, and BPL’s statement yesterday was an attempt to rebut such assertions.

Mr Miller, who has emerged as a prominent critic of BPL and the government’s decision to provide a contract to PowerSecure to manage the utility provider, said the company doesn’t “give a damn” about Bahamians.

He previously said the government should be ashamed for allowing the company to disconnect Bahamians for non-payment when people are struggling with the aftermath of a major hurricane.