WILLEMSTAD – MFK Member of Parliament Ishahier Felipe Monte is proposing that Aqualectra compensate customers affected by the recent rotating power outages, arguing that households and businesses should not repeatedly bear the consequences when an essential public service cannot be delivered.
In a letter to Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, who is responsible for Aqualectra, Monte proposes an automatic credit or another clearly visible adjustment on the electricity bills of customers affected by the recent load shedding.
His proposal would differ from Aqualectra’s existing procedure for claims involving material damage. Customers who believe Aqualectra is responsible for damage can currently submit an individual claim, but Monte argues that compensation for the interruption of service itself should be treated separately.
He wants any compensation for the recent outages to be simple and collective, without requiring customers to complete forms or prove that they suffered financial damage.
According to Monte, the consequences of load shedding extend beyond the technical challenge of balancing electricity production and demand.
“When Aqualectra switches off a neighborhood, it is not simply a connection that loses electricity,” the parliamentarian argues in his letter. He points to elderly people living alone who need refrigeration for medication, households spending hours without electricity during the August heat and businesses forced to interrupt their operations.
Curaçao has experienced several electricity problems in a relatively short period, including a blackout in April, rotating outages in July and another period of load shedding in August.
Monte says the repeated interruptions have created frustration and anger among residents, particularly after Aqualectra indicated that further load shedding could not yet be ruled out.
The MP points to Aqualectra's own history as evidence that compensation is possible. Following electricity problems in December 2020 and January 2021, the utility introduced the “Danki na Bo” program, under which qualifying customers could register to receive compensation.
Monte argues that the precedent demonstrates that compensation does not necessarily have to be limited to reimbursement for damaged appliances or other direct material losses.
He has submitted seven questions to Pisas under Article 96 of the Rules of Order of the Curaçao Parliament.
Among other things, Monte wants to know whether the prime minister believes compensation is reasonable after several days of load shedding, whether Aqualectra can technically identify which connections were affected during each outage period, and what alternative the government would offer affected households if it rejects his proposal.
Monte stresses that the proposal is not intended to place an unreasonable financial burden on Aqualectra or to determine who is to blame for the current electricity problems.
Instead, he says the principle should be straightforward: when consumers repeatedly suffer the consequences of interruptions to an essential service, there should be a fair and transparent mechanism for recognizing that disruption.