Executive Chairman of The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Leslie Miller says he hears the complaints of customers over their high electricity bills, but he revealed that a turnaround won’t happen until some major improvements at the corporation are made.

In recent weeks, the complaints from customers concerned over unprecedented escalating electricity bills have piled in to the chairman. Mr. Miller said while he is sympathetic to those customers, very little can be done to give them relief.

“Two- thirds of your bill goes for fuel surcharge in other words, you are just using electricity at a third but because of the high cost of electricity last year BEC spent $348 million on fuel,” he said. “As soon as we get Clifton Pier up to scratch and bring in some new engines customers will begin to see a turn around.”

But that turnaround is still years away and Mr. Miller said that BEC’s operations costs need to be reduced.

The chairman explained that in New Providence alone, BEC spends $1 million a month to rent generators at the cash-strapped corporation’s Blue Hill plant.

Additionally, Mr. Miller said that BEC will need to purchase less expensive slow speed diesel engines as opposed to the expensive HFO engines that are used at the Blue Hill plant.

“We are going to upgrade and refurbish Clifton hopefully within the next 24 months to 30 months with the blessing of the Government of The Bahamas even of it’s private or through BEC customers will see a decrease of at least 20 per cent to 25 per cent in their bill.”

Mr. Miller who is currently embroiled in a battle with BEC employees who have taken offense to remarks he made alleging that the workers had illegally racked up millions of dollars in overtime.

He has since called for an investigation into the matter and promised to seek legal action against those at fault.

He said going forward stricter guidelines will be put in place to ensure this type of activity does not happen.