Background:

The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands' policy is to transform the energy landscape, promoting sustainability, energy independence, and economic well-being while preserving our nation's natural beauty and resilience. Implementing these policy objectives will take various forms, but change starts with our Renewable Energy and Resource Planning Bill 2023 (the Bill). The Bill was tabled in Parliament in the fall of 2023 and is now the subject of further consultations before progressing through its next steps.

Renewable Energy  Key Policy:

The Government’s renewable energy policies will accelerate the adoption of renewable energy through a government-competitive Tendering Process. The
The tendering process will ensure that the bids with the best value are chosen to promote energy affordability within the Islands and a reduced dependency on fossil fuels. A new integrated planning process will help determine when more energy supplies are needed.

In a move toward public management of our transition to a renewable energy future, the Government will require all renewable energy systems to be licensed. Small-scale systems with a renewable generation capacity of less than 15 kW will have a streamlined process for obtaining licenses, while larger-scale producers (Commercial, Industrial, and Independent Power Producers with a capacity greater than 15 kW will need to undergo studies and pay a small levy to support further renewable energy initiatives that are in the public interest. All license holders must remain connected to the grid and pay an interconnection access fee.

The fee will ensure those who have the means to build their renewable energy systems contribute to the general costs of the electricity grid. The Bill also includes a new Government program to allow building owners with renewable energy systems to sell surplus electricity for their everyday needs back to the grid. Payments under this Net Billing arrangement will be linked to the prices for the electricity system’s Monthly Fuel Cost. New responsibilities for the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Energy and Utilities (EUD) Commissioner will accompany these provisions. The Commissioner will be able to develop rules to guide the tendering processes. These new responsibilities will also include oversight and administration for the safe design and operation of all renewable energy systems, licensing, and public supplier performance standards. Over the long term, the government’s policies will include requirements for new rate designs and incentives for the adoption of storage, community energy systems, electric vehicle charging, and further measures to ensure accountability using regulatory best practices. Additional accountability and oversight measures will come with the eventual establishment of an independent multi-sector regulator. For more information about the RE Bill Public consultation and a short survey, please click RE Bill.