By S.Browne. Updated 2:20 p.m., Thursday, July 23, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Customers of St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC) will see an increase in the fuel surcharge applied to their July 2026 electricity bills, as the company continues to respond to rising global fuel costs.
VINLEC announced on July 23, 2026, that the fuel surcharge rate for July has increased to $0.8320 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up from $0.7378 per kWh in June 2026. The adjustment represents an increase of approximately nine cents per kWh.
The company said the higher rate was applied after a subsidy of EC$734,959 was granted to help reduce the impact of rising fuel costs on customers.
The July adjustment follows measures introduced in June 2026 to cushion consumers from increases in electricity generation costs. In June, VINLEC applied a subsidy to the fuel surcharge after Prime Minister Dr Godwin Friday announced a cost of living package that included a waiver of customs service charges and excise taxes on diesel used for electricity generation for an initial three-month period.
VINLEC had previously explained that the subsidy mechanism was designed to provide additional relief when fuel surcharge rates exceeded specified thresholds. However, the company noted that these thresholds were not a cap on the fuel surcharge, which would continue to reflect changes in international fuel prices.
“The fuel surcharge is a pass-through charge that enables VINLEC to recover the cost of fuel used in electricity generation. VINLEC does not profit from this charge,” the company stated.
VINLEC said the continued rise in the fuel surcharge in recent months is linked to increasing global oil prices, which have been affected by ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“The steady increase in the fuel surcharge in recent months is a direct consequence of rising global oil prices, driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions,” VINLEC said.
The company added that it remains cautiously optimistic that international oil prices will stabilise in the coming months.
“VINLEC remains cautiously optimistic that oil prices will stabilize in the months ahead, based on current market trends,” the company stated.
VINLEC thanked customers for their patience and understanding as it manages the impact of global market conditions and encouraged consumers to continue practising conservation methods where possible.
Customers seeking further information or assistance can contact VINLEC’s Customer Services Department by email at [email protected], by telephone at (784) 456-1701, extensions 237 or 238, or via the company’s Facebook page.
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