Submitted by BANGO
In the matter of the application by the Barbados Light & Power Co. Ltd., the Commission held a Rate Hearing in which the Applicant put forward its case for a raise in rates. During the Hearing, the Applicants main theme was that it needed to show a greater rate of return from its operations and that this would help it attract debt rather than equity; since equity is more expensive.
40 responses so far ↓
David // November 12, 2009 at 5:06 PM
The FTC/BL&P Hearing provided the opportunity for Barbadians perhaps led by the Fourth Estate to have a parallel discussion about Renewable Energy. It would have bee time appropriate in the circumstances.
What makes BANG think the FTC will consider the pole business? Have they not suggested the savings in revenue recovery for their pole plant is negligible in the circumstances?
Christopher Halsall // November 12, 2009 at 5:56 PM
@David: “What makes BANG [sic] think the FTC will consider the pole business? Have they not suggested the savings in revenue recovery for their pole plant is negligible in the circumstances?
To speak to your question directly:
1. We have no idea how the FTC will adjudicate, or what they might (or might not) consider.
2. BL&P are asking for $28 million in additional revenue.
2.1. If BL&P were charging TeleBarbados (TBB) and C&W (AKA LIME) what their *own* consultants recommended, they would have been receiving an *additional* $1.67 million in revenue which would have come off of what they claim they need (please see the spreadsheet within the submission). Thus, instead of $28 million, they would only (claim to) need $26.33 million.
2.2. What appears to have been lost in the translation into PDF, if BL&P had “let” the second pole position to a party who would have actually used (rather than simply reserved) a greater number of poles (read: a Cable TV provider), the revenue would have been over $2 million.
3. I keep trying to make this point: TBB is an *associated* company of BL&P.
3.1. Why, then, are the documented agreements between TBB and BL&P *so* very far from what any objective observer would consider “arms-length”?
Let the serious dialogue begin!
ROK // November 12, 2009 at 7:19 PM
@David
In business you don’t scoff at cents. To get a dollar you start with a cent. Furthermore $2M is nothing to scoff at. Prudent management dictates that every cent that could be recovered should be recovered.
Take the businessman who import 200 pails of pig tails. After he finishes selling the pig tails, he can now sell the pails at $6 each. Nothing to scoff at.
Similarly, although BL&P is using the poles, there is room for two more positions for service providers to attach for which the company can recover up to 72% of the cost of each pole.
How can the FTC not consider it? So long as it is raised and the evidence to support it is put forward, it must get due consideration.
Let me remind you that Wendell McClean pleaded with the PUB 25 years ago to make providers produce annual regulatory reports. It was in the Depreciation hearing that BANGO put forward the argument and the evidence and it was considered and ruled in favour of our submission.
ROK // November 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
@David
What Chris was explaining is that there will be another forum for us to deal with “position of dominance” and we will certainly have our time then. Just that those arguments are not very relevant to the rate hearing other than a passing mention. It is just not relevant.
In relation to renewables, that consultation and debate is still to come. The FTC is to make the announcement for this to happen.
David // November 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM
@ROK
The suggestion about RE not being discussed in parallel with the FTC Hearing was not meant to suggest it should have been within the hearing. The media in our view could have mounted the RE debate given the FTC hearing at the time.
@Chris
Forgive our ignorance but isn’t there a protocol with the FTC legislation to govern how the BL&P should treat with affiliate companies? If not what is the purpose of the FTC? (tongue and cheek)
Christopher Halsall // November 12, 2009 at 7:41 PM
@David: “…but isn’t there a protocol with the FTC legislation to govern how the BL&P should treat with affiliate companies?
In the short form… One might think so, might one?
ROK // November 12, 2009 at 7:49 PM
@David
OK. Understood. It would have begun the search for the facts that would then enrich the debate.
Christopher Halsall // November 12, 2009 at 8:27 PM
@BU Family et al…
A (literally) dirty little secret…
A great deal of Barbados’ electricity consumption is because of air conditioning during the day…
There exists “off-the-shelf” technology which converts the Sun’s heat directly into cooling fluids.
Serious business persons should know that this is proven technology, deployed widely…
(Hint: Absorption air conditioning… Hint: Lithium Bromide… Hint: there’s *serious* money to be made here.)
Please conduct yourselves accordingly….
sad very sad // November 12, 2009 at 10:00 PM
i heard rok on the call in show
rok sounded like a chicken picking up corn
scratchgrain // November 13, 2009 at 12:22 AM
Some people never have anything good to say about others. Get a life… chicken. Join the thread “Does the black race suffer from an inferior complex”. You are best suited there as a perfect example.
Bonny Peppa // November 13, 2009 at 6:24 AM
sad very sad
You, dat call-in show was since Sunday gone, it is almost Sunday again and you still drooling over my ROK.Ya klown. You got a ting fa he or wah? Well listen, it just in happenin, hear me? It in happenin, so cast thy eyes elsewhere. He is mineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
ROK
Mawnin, my honey-dew melon.
mwahhh, mwahhh, these kisses fa you to help you pass de day til lata ‘ron.
Love you Boo-boo.
Anon // November 13, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Have read the whole thing. EXCELLENT job. While a lawyer might have prettied it up a bit – also likely made it less understandable to the man-in-the-street, I sincerely doubt they could have done better. It is clear and compulsive reading. Really, I admire it greatly. If the detractors feel they can do better, why the hell have they not stepped up to the wicket?
David // November 13, 2009 at 9:32 AM
@BANGO
Please consider contacting the producers of the callin shows to provide an opportunity to take your message to the people. If the producers don’t cotton to the idea please pick up the phones and in a deliberate way detail the issues for Barbadians. BU as always will support the effort in what small way we can.
Christopher Halsall // November 13, 2009 at 10:56 AM
@Anon… Thank you for the positive feedback. Your opinion means a lot.
@David… An excellent idea. It will be interesting to observe the results considering last Sunday (smile)….
Hopi // November 13, 2009 at 11:15 AM
@ROK………You and BANGO are to be commended for your efforts on the behalf of the poor and the poorest of the poor [as well as the betwixt and between] who do not have a voice that is worthy of the ears of those who affect their lives directly and indirectly.
I find it ridiculous that while most customers will see an increase some business customers [those who can afford to pay] will actually pay less.
So those who can least afford it would have to go out and purchase energy efficient machines and gadgets.
You were absolutely right in bringing attention to the incestuous relationship of BL&P and TeleBarbados—which seems to getting a free ride on the backs of the consumers.
Are the shareholders really losing out or is it that they are now going in for the kill, in accordance with the fleecing of the poor that has been globalised today?
Did the GOB carry out its own independent analysis to verify the BL&P’s claim that the installation of the low speed diesel plant saved the country $60m. in fuel cost [even though it was not realised by the enduser] hereby justifying their tax break for 07′ & 08′?
At the end of the day, it can all be chalked up to PROFITABILITY, though clothed in euiptment upgrade and aiding in the deployment of the latest telecom infrastructure to government and other commercial enterprises, it is still about PROFITABILITY.
And yet again the proles have to support the fat cats.
A rose by any other name is still a rose!
Keep up the good work ROK!
ROK // November 13, 2009 at 11:28 AM
@anon
Thanks very much for that feedback. I am glad that you made the point about being understandable by the man in the street. That is exactly what we strive for. If we are representing their interests, they should understand us and what we put forward in their favour.
@David
Your call really speaks to the role of the fourth estate and how they perceive their role. At the hearing, those journalists did not have the first clue and they think that we are lesser mortals; not appealing or sensational.
One of these days they will come to understand that we take our role seriously and that in the long term, we will find a means of reaching the people.
One thing I have learned is that if you leave a man in a room long enough, he will find a way to get out. The beauty about the non-profit sector running media is that the followers will get to understand that when they hear from us, that it will be an independent view not constrained by advertisers or political pressure. All I can say is that we will strive to be fair, and certainly we will not be maligning or defaming anybody. It will come and that day is not far off at all.
As a matter of fact, I the more I think about it, the better Barbados will be served by media owned by the NGO Sector.
sad very sad // November 13, 2009 at 12:43 PM
rok needs to meet you and the two of you need to decide on each other and stop behaving like giddy head kids on the net-it is sickening
Christopher Halsall // November 13, 2009 at 12:59 PM
@All…
I have found, over my twenty five (25) years of BBSing, EMail Listing and Blogging…
…that when “noise” (from “Anonymous” (or their alias) entities) suddenly enters the “channel”, that often the “signal” is not to certain entities liking…
Let the *signal* be the focus — as the *noise* is nothing but.
For what that’s worth….
Technician // November 13, 2009 at 1:11 PM
lol@Chris
Trying to measure the signal/noise ratio on this one…lol.
Christopher Halsall // November 13, 2009 at 1:28 PM
@Technician: “Trying to measure the signal/noise ratio on this one…lol.
It is fascinating. Isn’t it?
We (or is it us?) communication engineers’ jobs are to ensure that all “receivers” are able to receive every last “bit” through a “noisy” channel.
When its a bit stream modulated over an analogue transport, this is easy to measure.
When its a human language modulated over text or audio, this is less easy to measure….
Bonny Peppa // November 13, 2009 at 3:14 PM
sad very sad
LOVE makes ya do funny tings. You should get someone to love the way we Love each other.You would know how it feels my friend.
ROK
I love you soooooooooooooo much, it hurts.
smoochhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
anon
Anything my ROK does, is WELLLLLLL done.I would know.
Christopher Halsall // November 13, 2009 at 3:28 PM
@Bonny Peppa…
If you actually loved ROK as much as you *claim*, you would not introduce so much *noise* into the channels with which he is trying to communicate.
Fortunately, BANGO uses “Forward Error Correction” (FEC) algorithms in our messages, so your noise does not have as much of an impact as it might otherwise have…
And, therefore, we all *know* that you are trying to distract from (introduce noise into) the message…
Care to share exactly who you are working for?
sad very sad // November 13, 2009 at 8:26 PM
chris what the jobby are you talking about ?
Bonny Peppa // November 13, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Chris Halsall
I realise that my proclamation of love for my Sweetheart ROK is a problem for some. Don’t understand why.
You do your thing, lemme do mine too nah, Sus Croissssssssssssssssssss.
I am working for no one Mister but I am trying to work on ROK without you butting in telling me shoiteeeeeeeee.
kiki // November 14, 2009 at 6:33 AM
Bonny Crissy is saying that them hearings are a serious business no jestering
sad very sad // November 14, 2009 at 7:21 AM
get a life bonny pepper what love for rok what you aint know that you is a big woman why you dont stop de s**t nuh enough of you and this rok s***e
ROK // November 14, 2009 at 8:16 AM
@David
It is time that those people whose sole purpose is come on this blog and persecute others should be censored. Such behaviour is a threat to free speech.
In this case I am not thinking of myself because what the person is doing is like water off a duck’s back for me, but consider that such behaviour may very well be a deterrent to others who want to say something but don’t want to be subjected to any persecution.
I think we should start trying to set a standard that anybody would feel free and less threatened to contribute… but stalking somebody simply because you don’t like them is not only inexcusable but very immature. If the same thing was happening to them, they would not like it and would feel that nobody should be doing it to them.
Everybody has a right to free expression and a right not to endure persecution… and if it is a regular contributor using a pseudonym to do their dirty work, they should be exposed.
David // November 14, 2009 at 8:47 AM
Hear you ROK, let us have a reread. In the mean time Sad Very Sad show some love.
Bonny Peppa // November 14, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Kiki
Mawning Selecta.
I don’t see any imperical data to prove that I have not supported ROK in his contribution at FTC. For someone (Chris Halsall) to think that I am a detractor, is pathetic.
For whatever reason ’sad very sad’ is always opposed to my ROK. So I just remind him/her to just leave him alone for me.
If persons have a problem with me saying how much I love ROK, I can’t promise them that I will stop saying it.
ROK
Mawning my strawberry-cheese-cake.
I just Loveeeeeeeeeeeee you.
mwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
sad very sad
Tek um easy. Stress kills too.
Hartley Henry // November 14, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Rawle Eastmond just tendered his resignation.
The country have to wait to see if Mia Mottley accepts it.
Owen Arthur has advised….that she should.
More information as it comes to hand.
sad very sad // November 14, 2009 at 5:42 PM
it is ‘empirical’ not ‘imperical’
Sargeant // November 14, 2009 at 6:22 PM
What did Eastmond resign from? The House of A or the BLP? If Eastmond resigned from the House wouldn’t his resignation be addressed to the Speaker? What does Mottley have to do with it?
Bonny Peppa // November 14, 2009 at 10:19 PM
sad very sad
You are a klown.Be it with a ‘c’ or a ‘k’, you are a real, real klown.
Correct dat too. Idiot.
sad very sad // November 15, 2009 at 10:49 AM
my apologies to rok it is not my intention to stalk you or any one else humblest apologies rok and to anyone else that i may have offended
sad very sad // November 15, 2009 at 11:14 AM
bonny pepper has been stalking you but i dont see you complaining
ROK // November 15, 2009 at 1:41 PM
At least some people are matured enough to say sorry. Apology accepted and appreciated.
In relation to Bonny Peppa, she not stalking me she is heaping her love on me. I would advise you not to get into that either.
Wait Bonny, you gone church today or wha? You missing in action.
Bonny Peppa // November 15, 2009 at 6:00 PM
ROK
I’m right here my ‘bubble-bath’.
Just put a mwahh right on dat cute cheek of yours. Sweet thang ya.
sad very sad
I don’t stalk my ROK. I am trying to lure him. That’s the difference.
ROK
Someone love you honey.
David // November 22, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Congrats to the BANGO team!
See you have taken suggestions to do the roadshow and take the message to the people. See if Peter Wickham is prepared to host the team. Call John Lovell at talk yuh talk who seems to be sympathetic to these kinds of issues.
ROK // November 23, 2009 at 2:06 AM
@David
Presently in Costa Rica and heard that there was an article in the Sunday Sun but I don’t see it online.
David // November 23, 2009 at 7:12 AM
@ROK
Something under Albert Branford’s name with the pics of the BANGO team featured. It was essentially a précis of your closing submission. Get back safely.