BTP will map out utility regulation and energy transition agenda for St. Maarten

GREAT BAY--Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten (BTP) is preparing to take on a new oversight role for water, electricity, and gas tariffs, while linking that work to a broader energy transition plan. The approach centers on transparent pricing, clear rules for utilities, and coordinated investment in renewables and storage.

Interim Director of BP Judianne Hoeve explained that BTP will review tariff calculations for water, electricity, and gas before government signs off. The review will test accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal and regulatory rules. Only after this check would tariffs proceed to ministers for approval. BTP’s new role is meant to provide a clear line of sight from fuel price to final bill and to anchor an energy transition that is paced, funded, and measurable.

The regulator plans to break out the components that drive a bill. Fuel prices, purchased power costs, network losses, operations, and financing will be identified so consumers and businesses can see how totals are built. Regulation cannot force bills down if fuel and other inputs rise, but it can verify that the math and method are correct and lawful.

Additionally, to perform reviews at scale, BTP will add financial analysts and strengthen legal support. Cooperation with Curaçao’s utilities regulator will transfer templates, calculation methods, and lessons learned. The aim is to avoid mistakes already solved in the region and to speed up the learning curve.

BTP will also set timelines for utility submissions, define data formats, and require documentation that supports each cost element. The regulator will monitor service quality indicators, since reliability and losses affect cost. Disputes over bills would be easier to audit because the calculation trail must be on file.

Hoeve, joined by BTP's Chief Corporate Development Officer Ryan Wijngaarde on radio this week, explained how regulation links to prices and how prices reflect inputs. Fuel costs and purchased power prices are major drivers. When inputs fall, customers should see that reduction flow through. When inputs rise, bills may rise, but the regulator’s file must show why. This clarity is the core promise of the new framework. Regular summaries will explain the status of tariff reviews and any changes. This is meant to rebuild trust in how prices are set and to give businesses a basis for planning.

It was explained that regional and international examples show how islands move from fuel dependence to a mix of solar, storage, and efficiency. Recent lessons highlighted Hawaii’s progress to high renewable penetration, with two key takeaways being long term targets with clear milestones, and grid investments that enable storage and flexible operations.

Hoeve noted that financing grid upgrades and storage will require significant capital, and said Sint Maarten should look at how Curaçao successfully issued bonds to fund solar energy and network improvements. She suggested this model could help the island modernize its grid without overburdening the public budget.

Hoeve and Wijngaarde both stressed that progress toward renewable energy will require a joint policy between government, GEBE, and BTP. They said all three must agree on clear goals and a staged plan to guide investments in renewables, energy storage, and grid upgrades. That plan should be supported by transparent tariff reviews, accountability on spending, and financing tools such as bonds to fund long-term improvements.

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