BEL Adds COPA Charge to August Electricity Bills

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has implemented a new Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA), increasing electricity charges by 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour on bills issued in August 2026. The adjustment was announced on August 19 and took effect immediately. It follows a final decision by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and applies to customers across Belize, including San Pedro, except vulnerable households receiving the Social Rate.
The change forms part of a new regulatory sandbox established to review COPA on a month-by-month basis. COPA is a billing mechanism that reflects the difference between the PUC-approved reference cost of power and BEL’s actual cost of purchasing electricity from local and regional suppliers. When the actual cost is higher, customers may pay an adjustment. When it is lower, the charge may decrease, remain at zero, or result in a rebate.
BEL stated that its actual cost of power during the previous six months was 4.3 cents per kilowatt-hour above the approved reference cost. However, the regulatory sandbox limits any monthly increase or decrease to a maximum of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, meaning customers will not immediately absorb the full difference. The August COPA tariff was approved at 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour and will appear as a separate line item on electricity bills.
The latest increase has drawn frustration from some San Pedro residents, including those living in the DFC area. “Every time we think the bill might come down, there is another increase,” said one DFC resident, who asked not to be identified. Another resident said the additional cost will place more pressure on households already trying to manage food, transportation, and housing expenses. A third resident questioned whether the monthly reviews would eventually provide relief or lead to continued increases in electricity costs.
Under the new framework, BEL must submit verified operational and financial information to the PUC each month for review and approval. Customers receiving the Social Rate remain fully exempt from COPA adjustments, while the COPA charge is also exempt from General Sales Tax (GST).
Future adjustments are not guaranteed. Depending on BEL’s verified costs and the PUC’s monthly decision, COPA could increase, decrease, remain unchanged, or be rebated. The new mechanism is designed to allow BEL to recover fluctuations in electricity purchase costs while limiting the size of monthly adjustments passed on to consumers.