Energy surcharge by hotels in the VI??

Loads of places have for a long time had an energy surcharge and the amounts vary. Last site I noticed it was Bolongo on STT and I can't remember what percentage it was offhand but it's not at all unusual.

I charge 7%. Maybe I should raise it. I have seen hotels charge upwards to 20% to cover svearal thngs like beach use, towel use, energy surcharge, etc. As long as it's spelled out, I understand that is the way you do it.

It's becoming more and more popular. I have been seeing $30 per day at a wide range of resorts throughout the Caribbean, not just in the VI.

From a timing perspective, it became much more attractive for Hotels to feel like they could get away with these fees when the arilines started in earnest with the ala carte fees for bags, choosing seats, etc. on top of the rates.

Personally as a consumer, I would prefer these businesses just give me one figure, with all taxes, "Resort Fees", "Energy Fees", etc. when I make a reservation. Who do they think they're fooling? Is the general public that stupid???

Don't businesses pay a lower rate on electric? I'll bet that's not disclosed when you book your room only to find out when you get here. Then it's too late.

Commercial interests/businesses do pay a lessor rate $0.54 vs. $0.58 for residential rates.

Hey Ronnie - Do you get to pay the commercial rate or is there a specific amount of Kwh amount usage on must have to qualify for a commercial rate? Anyone know?

Commercial interests/businesses do pay a lessor rate $0.54 vs. $0.58 for residential rates.

Hey Ronnie - Do you get to pay the commercial rate or is there a specific amount of Kwh amount usage on must have to qualify for a commercial rate? Anyone know?

It's nothing to do with consumption. When you set up your WAPA account you have to provide a copy of your current business license in order to qualify for the (really very slight) reduced rate. There may be other criteria you have to meet but it's been a LONG time since I set up a commercial account and WPA would have all those details.

Thanks OT!

A lot of larger Hotels like the Buccaneer, divi, and Frenchmans Reef make their own power (not on wapa) because it's actually cheaper for them to have their own giant generators.

But it's still very expensive and diesel fuel reliant

Well, they (Buccanneer) are charging a 21% surcharge on top of all taxes and rates.
So your visit for 7 days is $7000.00 and your energy surcharge is 21% of that rate so a guest pays $1470.00 based on rate alone.
No wonder people will run the A/C 24/7! yikes!:-o

Unless things have changed, the surcharge at the Buc includes the hotel occupancy tax, which is now 10%.

Antilles Resorts, which handles places like Club STX, Colony Cove, charges 27%. I'm betting all the hotels include this, and from what i know, at least 10% tax and 10% energy is the usual minimum.

I did some poking around and found that Florida has a flippin bed tax! Nothing on electric so far.
Almost $1500.00 for electric. That would keep me away.

Unless things have changed, the surcharge at the Buc includes the hotel occupancy tax, which is now 10%.

The Buc website specifically says, "Plus tax and energy surcharge 21%."

The current WAPA commercial rate is 54.8 cents per kilowatt and the residential rate is 50.8 cents per kilowatt. Businesses pay a higher rate than resdiential customers. Here is a link to the WAPA website that lists the current rates in the middle area of their home page.

http://www.viwapa.vi/Home.aspx

Maybe they should install coin operated ac and lamps, like the old vibrating beds.

The current WAPA commercial rate is 54.8 cents per kilowatt and the residential rate is 50.8 cents per kilowatt. Businesses pay a higher rate than resdiential customers. Here is a link to the WAPA website that lists the current rates in the middle area of their home page.

http://www.viwapa.vi/Home.aspx

It's the opposite. residential pays more @58 cents. Will look for the link to post.

Last year I stayed at Club St. Croix and was charged $90 for utilities... I was a bit annoyed, but paid, and that was the end of it... It is the only place that has charged for such an item separately in the bill in just over a year that I've traveled to STX...

The current WAPA commercial rate is 54.8 cents per kilowatt and the residential rate is 50.8 cents per kilowatt. Businesses pay a higher rate than resdiential customers. Here is a link to the WAPA website that lists the current rates in the middle area of their home page.

http://www.viwapa.vi/Home.aspx

It's the opposite. residential pays more @58 cents. Will look for the link to post.

If it's the opposite then the official WAPA website is incorrect as it says exactly as JE noted! I paid the commercial rate for so many years that I never paid attention to who paid more.

As fa as I know it has always been more. If you want three phase it's more again!

The current WAPA commercial rate is 54.8 cents per kilowatt and the residential rate is 50.8 cents per kilowatt. Businesses pay a higher rate than resdiential customers. Here is a link to the WAPA website that lists the current rates in the middle area of their home page.

http://www.viwapa.vi/Home.aspx

It's the opposite. residential pays more @58 cents. Will look for the link to post.

If it's the opposite then the official WAPA website is incorrect as it says exactly as JE noted! I paid the commercial rate for so many years that I never paid attention to who paid more.

The WAPA site is incorrect. Big Surpise?*-)

last 3 residential rate bills have been .518 cents, .5213 and .5215 cents. The one before that was at .4913 cents.

Based on my residential electric bill for the service period 2/1/13 thru 3/4/13, I used 451 kilowatts. My total bill is for $235.74. To determine the actual price per kilowatt that WAPA charges, you first need to subtract the Customer Charge, which is $6.22. This charge is not based on how many kilowatts you use, it is simply a charge for having an account. So if you divide $229.52 by the number of kilowatts I used, 451, that gives you a price per kilowatt of $.50891353 per kilowatt, which is a little higher than 50.8 cents a kilowatt but still in the ballpark. If you still suspect that this is incorrectly calculated, the left center portion of the paper bill lists the individual charges that combined make up the total price per kilowatt. My current bill lists the charges as:

Base Rate = .093387
LN Loss Sur = .002196
Pilot Sur = .000686
Fuel Charge = .412648

If you add these up you come up with .508917, which is slightly different than the .50891353 calculated by dividing the bill amount by the kilowatts used, but still in the same ballpark. In fact, if you multiply .508917 by 451 and then add 6.22, the bill amount would still be $235.74, so the difference is obviously insignificant.

And yes Bob, I am thinking about the cartoon right now....

According to the vibir all energy surcharges are taxed at the 10% hospitality tax rate too. So you are paying a tax on your Wapa bill (which in every meaningful way is a tax in itself. )

I know most hotels and Inns are charging a 10 to 20% energy surcharge.
We decided to charge the use of the Air conditioning only. All of our rooms have split units that have meters on them. If you want the A/C then you pay for that only. If you don't use it you don't get a charge. Give your guests a choice. Most guests don't use A/C.
Alot of villas are doing meters on the A/C units also.
You let your guests know up front about your meter and the rate. It has worked great for us.