# St Vincent Fuel Surcharge Rises 45%

> St Vincent fuel surcharge jumped 45% since March, now exceeding base rate on power bills.
- Title: St Vincent Fuel Surcharge Rises 45% · The Rio Times | Shortify
- Summary: St Vincent fuel surcharge jumped 45% since March, now exceeding base rate on power bills. St Vincent's fuel surcharge on power bills rose 45% from March to…
- Keywords: st vincent, vinlec, fuel surcharge, electricity, caribbean, diesel, power bills, ec cents, base rate, october 2026, news, world
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/st-vincent-fuel-surcharge-debate-2026
- Author: Iolanda Fonseca
- Published: 2026-10-03T18:23:10+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: st vincent, vinlec, fuel surcharge, electricity, caribbean, diesel, power bills, ec cents, base rate, october 2026, news, world
## St Vincent Fuel Surcharge
The St Vincent fuel surcharge on September 2026 bills stood at 79.67 Eastern Caribbean cents per kWh, about US$0.30.
## Surcharge Increase
VINLEC's fuel surcharge rose 45% from 54.90 cents in March to 79.67 cents in September, exceeding the 50-cent base rate.
## Surcharge Calculation
VINLEC calculates the surcharge as fuel costs above a fixed base price, divided by units sold, with no profit margin.
## August Fuel Costs
Fuel burnt in August cost EC$12.3m (about US$4.6m), per VINLEC's notice for September bills.
## Government Measures
Prime Minister Godwin Friday waived diesel customs charges for three months, expecting EC$1.65m (about US$611,000) revenue forgone.
## Surcharge Caps
VINLEC agreed to match 50% of surcharge costs above 71 cents and 100% above 77 cents for households.
## Opposition Critique
Opposition leader Ralph Gonsalves called the government's account 'smoke and mirrors', citing VINLEC's chief executive.

> smoke and mirrors
## Flat Fee Debate
Calls to replace the surcharge with a flat fee would shift fuel costs from large users to small households, according to iWitness News.
## October Rate
VINLEC has not yet published the October rate, which reflects fuel burnt in September, expected to rise with higher oil prices.
## Key takeaway

St Vincent's fuel surcharge on power bills rose 45% from March to 79.67 EC cents per kWh in September, exceeding the base rate of 50 cents.