BVIEC’S MONTHLY FUEL DATA – NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

Tortola, British Virgin Islands, January 16, 2026 — After October’s record electricity output and improved efficiency, the final two months of 2025 showed how quickly conditions can shift, even while BVIEC continues to operate under the same fixed rates that have existed for decades.

1) Total Fuel Cost: November: $3,592,389 & December: $2,969,648

(October: $3,299,327)

What it Means:
Fuel spending rose sharply in November, then fell significantly in December. November reflected higher fuel prices and strong demand, while December benefited from cheaper fuel and reduced electricity use.

Why it Matters:
These swings highlight how fuel costs remain unpredictable, yet BVIEC’s customer rates do not move with them. Even when fuel costs fall, BVIEC is still recovering electricity costs under a structure set decades ago.

Relatable Example:

  • The jump from October to November is like a household suddenly facing a much higher grocery bill before the holidays.

  • December’s drop is similar to cutting back on expenses after Christmas, helpful, but it doesn’t erase the year’s financial pressure.

2) Total Fuel Used – November: 1,324,738 gallons & December: 1,220,167 gallons

(October: 1,309,799 gallons)

What it Means:
Fuel usage peaked in November and then declined in December, reflecting seasonal demand patterns and operational adjustments.

Why it Matters:
More fuel burned doesn’t automatically mean inefficiency; it often means higher demand. But higher demand also increases BVIEC’s exposure to unrecovered costs under fixed rates.

Relatable Example:

  • November burned about one extra day of fuel compared to October.

  • December used roughly one week less fuel than October.

3) Average Fuel Price – November: $2.61488 & December: $2.33435

(October: $2.46980 | September: $2.56553)

What it Means:
Fuel prices spiked again in November, then dropped sharply in December, one of the lowest prices seen in 2025.

Why it Matters:
At BVIEC’s scale, price swings of just a few cents can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in monthly cost changes. Yet BVIEC cannot adjust electricity rates to reflect these movements.

Relatable Example:

  • November’s higher price added thousands to BVIEC’s daily fuel bill.

  • December dropped to the second-lowest price per US Gallon in 2025.

4) Total Units Sold – November: 17,564,582 kWh & December: 16,886,809 kWh

(October: 18,382,855 kWh — highest of 2025)

What it Means:
Electricity demand eased in November and December after October’s peak, as seasonal usage patterns shifted.

Why it Matters:
Lower demand reduces fuel use, but it also reduces revenue, while BVIEC’s fixed costs and infrastructure obligations remain the same.

Relatable Example:

  • November delivered near-October electricity levels, without October’s peak demand.

  • December looked quieter, but still exceeded most early-2025 months.

5) Cost to Produce & Supply 1 kWh – November: $0.22693 & December: $0.22810

(October: $0.22459)

What it Means:
Production costs remained consistently around 22–23 cents per kWh, despite changes in fuel prices and demand.

Why it Matters:
These costs continue to sit at or above several fixed customer rates, especially the 16.75¢ rate for large users, meaning BVIEC is still selling electricity below cost in many cases.

Relatable Example:

  • For every 1,000 kWh used by a large business in November or December, BVIEC spent about $227–$228 but recovered only $167.50.

  • That shortfall is like selling a product at a discount every single time, hoping volume will make up the difference.

6) Fuel Surcharge Subsidy – November: $1,224,701.51 & December: $1,127,670.67

(October: $1,156,358.12)

What it Means:
Subsidy levels remained high in both months, even as fuel prices and demand shifted.

Why it Matters:
The subsidy continues to protect customers from sharp bill increases, but it also means BVIEC absorbs significant costs every month, regardless of operational performance.

Relatable Example:

  • November’s subsidy alone could fund major engine component replacements.

  • December’s subsidy is equivalent to months of preventive maintenance across both power stations.

7) Cumulative Subsidy (Jan–Dec) – $13,676,910.26

What it Means:
By year’s end, BVIEC absorbed nearly $13.7 million in fuel costs on behalf of customers.

Why it Matters:
This long-standing subsidy system has helped keep electricity affordable for decades, but it increasingly limits BVIEC’s ability to reinvest in infrastructure, reliability, and long-term solutions.

Relatable Example:

  • Enough to fund multiple full generator overhauls.

  • Comparable to building renewable projects that could significantly reduce fuel dependence.

  • Equal to more than $37,400 absorbed every day throughout 2025.