The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Government has received between 40-50 registration applications to-date for its residential energy self-generation (RESG) programme, a Cabinet minister noting that the Family Island response had been tepid.

    “We began registration for the programme in May. I think the last figures I got from BEC was that they have between 40 or 50 applications,” said Kenred Dorsett, minister of housing and the environment.

“We have now engaged local administrators to be a part of the process because I don’t see a lot of registrations coming in from the Family Islands where I know there to be a considerable amount of wind and solar being utilized.  My team will work together with BEC to go into the islands and assist local administrators with the registration process.”      

Under the renewable energy self-generation programme, consumers can generate energy through alternative sources, tie into the current electrical grid and receive a credit for excess supply fed in.

On New Providence, RESG participants can only supply a maximum 5 kilowatts (KW) to the BEC grid.

This amount is further restricted on the Family Islands.On Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma, homes with renewable systems can only supply a maximum 3 KW to the grid. On Long Island, Bimini, San Salvador, Andros, Inagua, Cat Island, Great Harbour Cay, Black Point and Staniel Cay, the limit is 2 KW and for all other islands, the maximum is 1 KW.

    “If people want to benefit from the net billing regime  to be advanced in September  they are going to have to register their system. I think over the summer we are going to ramp up the public education so that more people are aware of what we are attempting to do,” said Mr Dorsett.