NEVLEC explains the fuel surcharge as the October rate rises to 96 cents per unit
The Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC) has published an explanation of its fuel surcharge, also called the FCAF. The surcharge for October 2026 bills is EC$0.96 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up from EC$0.79 in September.
What the fuel surcharge is
The surcharge is a charge per kWh of electricity used. It lets NEVLEC recover the cost of the fuel it burns to generate power. NEVLEC brought the surcharge back on bills from June 2026. Domestic customers were not billed a separate fuel surcharge from January to May 2026.
Why it changes
The rate follows the price NEVLEC pays for delivered fuel. NEVLEC says that price depends on world oil markets, supply and demand, and shipping costs, none of which it controls. When fuel costs rise or fall, the surcharge moves with them.
The delivered fuel price used for October bills was EC$16.42 per imperial gallon, compared with EC$8.08 for January bills, an increase of 103%.
| Billing month (2026) | Fuel price (EC$ per imperial gallon) | Fuel surcharge (EC$ per kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 8.08 | 0.00 |
| February | 7.68 | 0.00 |
| March | 8.21 | 0.00 |
| April | 9.38 | 0.00 |
| May | 14.15 | 0.00 |
| June | 13.47 | 0.69 |
| July | 12.38 | 0.67 |
| August | 12.90 | 0.75 |
| September | 14.73 | 0.79 |
| October | 16.42 | 0.96 |
How October’s rate was worked out
NEVLEC subtracts a base fuel price of EC$1.60 per gallon from the delivered price of EC$16.42. It multiplies the difference by the 330,028 gallons used, then divides by the 5,085,249 kWh sold. The result is EC$0.96 per kWh.
What it means for your bill
The surcharge is charged on every unit (kWh) you use, so the amount depends on the rate and your usage. At EC$0.96 per kWh, a customer who uses 200 units pays EC$192.00 in fuel surcharge. This is on top of the other charges on the bill.
Ways to lower your bill
NEVLEC suggests switching off lights and appliances when they are not in use, using air conditioning efficiently, and choosing energy-efficient appliances when replacing them.
Contact NEVLEC
Phone: 869 662 5811 or 869 469 9100
Email: info@nevlec.com
Website: nevlec.com
Source: Nevis Electricity Company Limited (NEVLEC), “Understanding the Fuel Surcharge (FCAF)” and “Fuel Surcharge Transparency: Why the October 2026 rate increased”, October 2026.