CARILEC, the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation has embarked on a project, designed to get its members and the consuming public more energy efficient.

This is in keeping with a broader mandate of expediting the move towards the decarbonization of the power sector and increasing energy affordability for Caribbean customers.

The financial impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the people of the region is a major cause for concern as food prices and utility bills continue to increase. 

In a bid to help ease some of the financial stress, CARILEC, has embarked on a project called CAREEP –the CARILEC Resiliency and Energy Efficiency Project. 

CAREEP is currently targeting six Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories or OCTs – Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Sint Maarten and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

CAREEP has four major OUPUTS: ONE, create regional awareness of energy measures and TWO pilot energy self-audits in local households including the exchange of in-efficient lightbulbs with highly efficient LEDs. 

A third component will train about 60 individuals in the design, installation and maintenance of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Equipment. The fourth output will produce a position paper on new energy services for presentation to the governments of the six Caribbean overseas countries and Territories.

CAREEP is being funded by RESEMBID – the Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme. Nnyeka Prescod is the Programme Manager.

RESEMBID is particularly concerned about the financial stress being experienced in the region -and consequently welcomed the CAREEP focus on saving through energy efficiency.

The CARILEC CAREEP project’s key message is that energy efficiency will benefit both the consumer and the electric utility companies.

There is a training component which will help prepare the region for job creation opportunities in achieving Energy Efficiency and the move towards a more sustainable use of electricity.

CARILEC hopes that lessons and best practice from the CAREEP experience will be adopted by member utilities across the region.