The Barbados Light & Power Company

What The Barbados Light & Power Company does

The Barbados Light & Power Company Limited ("BLPC") is the sole regulated electricity utility serving Barbados, operating as a vertically integrated franchise monopoly under license from the Fair Trading Commission (franchise currently extends to 2028). The company generates, transmits, and distributes electricity across the island through fossil-fuel plants (Spring Garden, Garrison, Seawell stations), the 33 MW Clean Energy Bridge diesel plant at Trents (commissioned 2021), a 10 MW utility-scale solar farm at Trents (first of its kind in the Eastern Caribbean, commissioned 2016), and a five-turbine Lambert's Wind Farm. The company serves residential customers through the Domestic Tariff and commercial/industrial customers across General Service, Secondary Voltage Power, Large Power, and Time of Use tariffs; revenue is generated primarily through FTC-regulated base rates (last adjusted in 2010, with an 11.9% increase filed in October 2021) supplemented by a monthly Fuel Clause Adjustment pass-through (39.75 cents/kWh as of July 2026) that recovers fuel costs with no markup.

BLPC's grid spans approximately 150.2 km of transmission cable, 2,800 km of overhead distribution lines, 77,000 distribution poles, and 18 substations (12 underground-connected with redundant transmission links). The company has deployed 24,250 LED streetlights under a public-sector program and is completing full deployment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) using Landis + Gyr two-way meters to enable remote meter reading, real-time consumption data, and future energy management services. Generation is supplemented by 25 MW of distributed customer-owned solar purchased from independent power producers, with a Renewable Energy Rider allowing customer-generators up to 500 kW to sell excess electricity back to the grid (20 MW combined cap).

BLPC is an affiliate of Emera Inc., the Canadian diversified energy and utility company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under ticker EMA. Headquartered at Garrison Hill, St. Michael, the company employs 101–250 people and pursues a 100/100 Vision: 100% renewable energy generation and 100% electrification by 2030. Customers include residential households (including a low-income sub-segment using under 150 kWh), commercial and industrial businesses, independent power producers, and critical infrastructure loads (hospitals, airports, ports, water utilities, financial hubs). Additional service offerings include the Interruptible Service Rider for demand-flexible large customers, tree-trimming reliability services, electrician installation guidelines, EV support resources, and educational community programs.

Name

The Barbados Light & Power Company

Legal name

The Barbados Light & Power Company Limited

Website

https://blpc.com.bb

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Barbados Light & Power Company is the sole regulated electricity utility serving Barbados, operating vertically integrated generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure to residential, commercial, and industrial customers under an FTC franchise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop) (EUAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substations, Transformers & Grid Step-Up Facilities (EHV Substations, GSU Transformers) (EUAMAFAE), Medium/Low-Voltage Power Distribution (MCCs, Panels, UPS, Grounding) (EUAEAFAB)

Keywords

• Electricity generation services
• Power transmission distribution
• Regulated utility monopoly
• Renewable energy generation
• Advanced metering infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgetown

HQ country

Barbados

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales - Base Rates: The company generates revenue primarily through regulated electricity base rates approved by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC). Base rates were last increased in 2010, over 11 years prior to the 2021 rate review application. The company filed for a rate review in October 2021 seeking an 11.9% increase to cover increased costs and necessary investments like the 33MW Clean Energy Bridge plant.
2. Fuel Clause Adjustment (FCA): A monthly pass-through mechanism approved by the FTC to recover the cost of fuel used in electricity production. Established in 1965 for commercial/industrial customers and extended to all customers in 1974. Calculated as the sum of previous month's cost of energy purchased plus cost of fuel consumed plus cumulative over/under recovery, divided by previous month's kWh sales. Current FCA: 39.7500 cents/kWh (July 2026).
3. Renewable Energy Rider: Available to customers with renewable generation facilities (wind turbine, solar PV, or hybrid) up to 500kW capacity. Customers can sell excess energy back to the grid. Maximum combined capacity of 20 MW.
4. Interruptible Service Rider: Pilot programme for SVP and Large Power tariff customers with billing demand exceeding 300 kVA. Allows company to interrupt supply during peak periods in exchange for discounted rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Barbados Light & Power Company is the regulated monopoly electricity utility for Barbados, generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity to residential and commercial customers across the island. Its core service is vertically integrated electricity supply through a mix of fossil fuel, solar, and wind generation, delivered via transmission and distribution infrastructure and billed under FTC-approved tariff structures. The company is also transitioning toward 100% renewable energy by 2030 through investments in the Clean Energy Bridge, Trents Solar Farm, and Lamberts Wind Farm.

Product overview

The Barbados Light & Power Company operates as an electricity utility providing generation, transmission, distribution, and billing services across Barbados. The core offering is electricity service delivery through multiple tariff products (Domestic Service for residential, General Service, Secondary Voltage Power, and Large Power for businesses), supplemented by the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart meter system. Major infrastructure projects include the Clean Energy Bridge (33 MW diesel plant), Lamberts Wind Farm (5 turbines), and Trents Solar Farm (10 MW). The company offers special rate riders (Renewable Energy Rider, Interruptible Service Rider, Time of Use Tariff) and customer self-service tools including the My BLPC Account portal and bill calculator. Additional services encompass outage management, tree trimming, EV charging information support, and the LED Streetlight Project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electricity Generation and Distribution Core electricity generation, transmission, and distribution service delivering power from generating stations through owned infrastructure to homes and businesses across Barbados. The generation mix includes fossil fuel plants (Spring Garden, Garrison, Seawell), the 10 MW Trents Solar Farm, and purchased power from independent power producers.
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Smart metering system replacing all existing electricity meters across Barbados with two-way communication-enabled meters. Enables remote meter reading, eliminates estimated bills, provides real-time power consumption data, and supports faster billing query resolution and future energy management services.
• Domestic Service (Residential Electricity Tariff) Electricity service for residential customers occupying individually-metered dwelling houses, apartments, or condominiums suitable for year-round family occupancy. Includes access to the Renewable Energy Rider for customers with solar or wind installations.
• General Service (Small Business Electricity Tariff) Business electricity tariff for customers with single phase, 2 or 3 wire service up to a maximum of 10 kVA. Designed for small commercial and business customers.
• Secondary Voltage Power (Medium Business Electricity Tariff) Business electricity tariff for medium commercial customers with billing demand of 5 kVA or greater requiring service at secondary voltage level.
• Large Power (Large Industrial Electricity Tariff) Business electricity tariff for large industrial customers with billing demand of 50 kVA or greater requiring service at primary voltage level. Eligible for the Time of Use pilot programme and Interruptible Service Rider.
• Renewable Energy Rider Programme for customers with renewable generation facilities (wind turbine, solar PV, or hybrid) up to 500 kW capacity. Allows customers to sell excess electricity back to the BLPC grid, available on first-come, first-served basis up to 20 MW combined installed capacity.
• Interruptible Service Rider Pilot programme for SVP and Large Power tariff customers with billing demand exceeding 300 kVA. Allows BLPC to interrupt supply during peak periods in exchange for discounted rates. Limited to 20 customers with combined capacity up to 10,000 kVA.
• Time of Use Tariff Pilot programme tariff for Large Power customers where electricity pricing varies based on time of consumption. Designed to help manage peak demand and electricity costs.
• Clean Energy Bridge (CEB) Generation Plant 33 MW medium speed diesel generation plant located at Trents, St. Lucy, comprising four modular blocks housing Wärtsilä engines. Provides reliable base load generation during the transition to 100% renewable energy and contributes approximately 27.1% of Barbados' annual energy requirement.
• Lambert's Wind Farm Wind energy project at Lamberts, St. Lucy featuring five Enercon turbines contributing approximately 3.4% of Barbados' annual electricity needs. Identified in the National Physical Development Plan for wind energy development.
• Trents Solar Farm 10 MW photovoltaic solar farm at Trents, St. Lucy spanning 42 acres with 44,496 solar panels. First utility-scale solar installation in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, capable of powering approximately 7,700 households.
• LED Streetlight Project Project replacing approximately 24,250 high pressure sodium streetlights with energy-efficient LED streetlights. Part of the Public Sector Smart Energy Programme, increases reliability, reduces maintenance, eliminates light pollution, and reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions.
• Outage Management Services Comprehensive outage information and restoration services including outage cause education, general and storm restoration processes, and maintenance/planned outage notifications. Covers emergency response, critical infrastructure prioritization, and community restoration sequencing.
• Tree Trimming Services Vegetation management service to trim trees near power lines. Includes online request system and coordination with local contractors to maintain grid reliability and prevent weather-related outages.
• Electrician Installation Services (Grid Code & Installation Requirements) Technical requirements and guidelines for electrical contractors, engineers, and architects for safe and uniform electrical connections to BLPC's system. Includes Grid Code requirements, service standards, and the Electrician Installation Requirements Handbook.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clean Energy Bridge contributes 27.1% of annual energy requirement for Barbados
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WärtsiläcoreTechnology or IntegrationEngine provider for the Clean Energy Bridge (CEB) project. Wärtsilä engines are known for efficiency and overall emissions performance. Each engine weighs 83 tons. The CEB is a 33 MW medium speed diesel generation plant.
• EnerconcoreTechnology or IntegrationWind turbine manufacturer for the Lambert's Wind Farm project. Five Enercon turbines are being installed at the Lambert's, St. Lucy location contributing approximately 3.4% of island's annual electricity needs.
• Landis + GyrcoreTechnology or IntegrationMeter manufacturer for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project. Light & Power conducted extensive research and testing before choosing Landis + Gyr meters. AMI meters feature two-way communication capability for remote reading and energy management.
• Tourism Development Corporation (TDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLPC partners with TDC in public relations efforts supporting tourism events including Barbados Sol Motorsports Rally, Barbados Sea Turtle Project, and International Coastal Clean-up project.
• Barbados Vocational Training BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLPC acts as a host for the Apprenticeship Programme formed by the Barbados Vocational Training Board. The programme provides formalised on-the-job training combined with theoretical training for Mechanics.
• Media Resource DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Media Resource Department to sponsor the Electricity and Renewable Energy Science Exposition and School's Display at the Barbados Manufacturers' Expo. Supports youth development in Barbados.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC): Sole electric provider for Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Comparable as a regulated island utility monopoly with a diversified generation portfolio including diesel and renewables. CUC is publicly traded on the TSX, providing a useful valuation benchmark for BLPC.
• Bahamas Power and Light (BPL): State-owned electric utility serving the Bahamas archipelago. Comparable in scale and structure to BLPC, with similar challenges around island geography, hurricane exposure, and high imported fuel dependency.
• Jamaica Public Service (JPS): Vertically integrated electric utility serving Jamaica, the largest English-speaking Caribbean island. Comparable as a regulated monopoly with a mix of fossil and renewable generation, although significantly larger than BLPC. Provides a reference point for utility-scale Caribbean operations.
• Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO): Sole electricity provider for Bermuda, also part of the larger Caribbean utility ecosystem. Comparable in scale, structure, and island-grid challenges, with a similar reliance on imported fuel and active transition to renewables.
• Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC): Vertically integrated electric utility serving Saint Lucia, a small Caribbean island nation. Directly comparable to BLPC as a regulated island monopoly with similar generation mix, distribution infrastructure, and exposure to imported fuel. T&D operations and tariff structure are highly analogous.
• Grenada Electricity Services Ltd (GRENLEC): Sole electricity provider for Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. Comparable as a small island electric utility with similar regulatory oversight and dependence on imported diesel. Provides reference for sub-100 MW island grid operations.
• Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA): Public electric utility serving the U.S. Virgin Islands. Comparable as a regulated island utility serving a small Caribbean territory with similar exposure to imported fuel, hurricane risk, and limited scale.

Broad incumbents

• Fortis Inc. Canadian diversified electric and gas utility holding company that owns multiple Caribbean utilities (including Caribbean's FortisTCI). Comparable to Emera as a parent company that owns and operates regulated Caribbean electric utilities, providing a benchmark for utility holding valuations.
• Emera Inc. Canadian energy and utility company and BLPC's ultimate parent (TSX: EMA). Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same industry space, with multiple regulated electric and gas utilities across North America and the Caribbean.

Others

• Wärtsilä: Major technology partner that supplied the engines for BLPC's 33 MW Clean Energy Bridge plant. While not a direct competitor, Wärtsilä is a key equipment vendor and partner for Caribbean island generation, providing a reference for distributed power generation economics and partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLymoaV3LMG7cOaSzqN84AmMpnnOPZwxty
• Xx.com/TweetBLPC
• Facebookfacebook.com/blpconline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Barbados Light & Power Company