Anguilla's electricity fuel surcharge hits record high

ANGUILLA--Electricity costs in neighboring Anguilla are facing renewed pressure after the island's electricity provider announced that its fuel surcharge had reached a record EC$1.20 (in guilders that's XCG 0.80) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for October 2026.

The Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) announced the adjustment on October 30, explaining that fluctuations in international fuel prices continue to influence the cost of producing electricity.

The latest increase follows several changes throughout 2026, with the surcharge rising from EC$0.42 per kWh earlier in the year to EC$0.88 in April and EC$1.04 in May. It subsequently declined during June and July before climbing again to EC$1.05 in August and September. The October adjustment to EC$1.20 represents the highest surcharge reported by the company.

The surcharge is separate from ANGLEC's regular electricity tariff, which ranges from EC$0.43 to EC$0.63 per kWh depending on consumption. This means the fuel adjustment represents an additional charge on electricity bills rather than the total price customers pay for power. The increased October surcharge is expected to be reflected in bills issued in early November.

However, the full increase will not be passed on to all electricity consumers. Under the government's continuing relief arrangements, households, apartments, public services and eligible shops will pay a maximum fuel surcharge of EC$0.42 per kWh. The government will cover the difference between that amount and the actual surcharge imposed by ANGLEC. At the October rate, this represents government assistance of EC$0.78 for every kilowatt-hour consumed by customers who qualify for the full subsidy.

Other commercial electricity customers will receive reduced assistance as the government gradually adjusts its support program. For October, their fuel surcharge contribution is capped at EC$0.52 per kWh, increasing to EC$0.65 in November and December. Hotels, villas, guesthouses and other tourist accommodation businesses are no longer eligible for the subsidy and must therefore absorb the applicable fuel surcharge as part of their electricity costs.

The situation provides an interesting comparison with neighboring St. Maarten, where utility company NV GEBE also applies a fuel clause to electricity bills to recover the cost of fuel used in power generation. For October 2026, St. Maarten's fuel clause stood at XCG 0.47 per kWh. While the two islands use different currencies, Anguilla's full fuel surcharge of EC$1.20 is equivalent to approximately XCG 0.80 per kWh, considerably higher than the fuel clause charged by GEBE during the same month.

The comparison changes when Anguilla's government subsidy is taken into account. The EC$0.42 fuel surcharge paid by qualifying Anguilla households is equivalent to approximately XCG 0.28 per kWh, below St. Maarten's October fuel clause of XCG 0.47. However, these figures represent only the fuel-related components of electricity charges and should not be interpreted as a comparison of total electricity bills, which also include regular tariffs, fixed charges and applicable taxes.

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