Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA)

• Joined ERRA in 2025

• Established in 2009

Responsibilities

• Legal basis/ mandate
• The primary role of URCA is the regulation of the electricity sector in accordance with the goals, objectives and principles underpinning the national energy and electricity sector policies in The Bahamas. (See the Electricity Act, 2024, section 13(1)).

• Responsibilities
• Electricity:
  ꟷ review and determine that the rates and scale of charges comprising the tariff rate for electricity supply services proposed by a licensee are reasonable, reflect efficiently incurred costs and are not inconsistent with, or in contravention of, the Electricity Act or any other law and allow an opportunity for public input;
  ꟷ review and approve, or reject, a determination by a public electricity supplier of a need for additional electricity generation by an independent power producer to ensure that it is reasonable, reflects efficiently incurred costs and is not inconsistent with,  or in contravention of, the Electricity Act or any other law;
  ꟷ establish rules and approve competitive processes for procurement of GTDS resources conducted by licensees> and ensure such rules are fair> consistent and compatible with the electricity sector policy and objectives and the national energy policy;
  ꟷ ensure that the electricity supply system is operated efficiently and in accordance with applicable regulatory and other measures;
  ꟷ in accordance with the Electricity Act review and grant applications for licenses;
  ꟷ represent the Government in regional and international organisations and obligations where the Minister responsible for relations with URCA delegates such tasks to URCA;
  ꟷ issue licences to and collect fees from all licensees and public electricity suppliers sufficient to cover the cost of the regulation of the sector by URCA;
  ꟷ publish for public information, prior to granting approval, the initial and revised renewable electricity plans proposed by licensees in accordance with the Electricity Act;
  ꟷ promote energy efficiency in the generation, distribution and consumption of electricity throughout The Bahamas; 
  ꟷ publish,  monitor and enforce standards for the protection of electricity consumers; 
  ꟷ require public electricity suppliers and other licensees to submit periodic reports, as determined by URCA, on their operations; and perform such other functions as may be assigned to URCA by the Electricity Act or any other law in relation to the electricity sector; 
  ꟷ review and determine that the rate and scales of charges for services of licensees are reasonable, reflect efficiently incurred cost, and are consistent with the Electricity Act or any other law.
  

• Authorities
• • Independence: Independent regulator of the electricity sector.
• • Supervised by: The Attorney General is the minister with responsibility for relations with URCA.

Organisational Structure

• Organigram

• Internal Structure
• Board of Directors (3 executive, 4 non-executive)

• Budget
• 100% license fees.

• Annual Report 2024 & 2025 Annual Plan
• More Annual Reports & Plans >>