Sticker Shock at the Meter: What’s Driving Higher Bills?

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]Good evening and welcome to News5 Live for Tuesday, May 26th. I am Sabrina Dailyaly. Bleians across the country are opening their electricity bills with shock and even in some cases disbelief.

[00:00:15]Reports of bills doubling, even tripling, have sparked a wave of frustration as households try to make sense of the sudden spike. Biz Electricity Limited says the surge comes down to the heat. Warmer temperatures, the company explains, are pushing fans and air conditioners into overdrive, driving up energy use and ultimately the cost. But for many customers, that explanation isn't cutting it. With families already feeling the squeeze, higher bills are raising serious concerns over cost and responsibility.

[00:00:50]So, what's really behind these eyepopping charges? News 5's Britney Gordon digs into the bills and have Bleians talking and worrying.

[00:01:02]What's going on with your latest electricity bill? That's the question many Bleians are asking right now.

[00:01:08]Recently, social media has been flooded with complaints about sudden spikes.

[00:01:13]Some bills jumping by as much as 200%.

[00:01:17]Even though households say they haven't changed how they use electricity.

[00:01:22]Naturally, that's raising eyebrows and concern across the country. So, we took that question straight to Bleise Electricity Limited. What's behind the increase? Here's what they had to say.

[00:01:34]Bise Electricity Limited, BEAL, appreciates the feedback and inquiries shared by our customers regarding their recent monthly electricity bills. We understand that managing household expenses is of utmost importance and we welcome the opportunity to provide clarity as we experience warmer seasonal weather across the country. Keeping homes and businesses cool and comfortable becomes essential during these warmer months. Cooling appliances naturally work much harder to maintain the temperatures we all rely on, which directly influences overall household energy consumption. Small everyday adjustments like using fans to circulate cool air and closing blinds during the peak heat of the day can make a meaningful difference in managing this seasonal usage. BEL remains committed to supporting the well-being of our communities by keeping the best interests of our customers at the forefront of everything we do.

[00:02:34]While Beel attributes the spike to rising temperatures, some customers aren't buying it and demand the company take a closer look at its system. A San Pedro resident shared her bill with us, showing it has more than doubled over the past 3 months. She says her routine hasn't changed and she only uses a single refrigerator.

[00:02:55]Another resident, this time from Orange Walk, reported that her bill jumped by $167, adding that the only appliance in her home is a refrigerator. In Bise City, a resident shared that his bill rose by over $105.

[00:03:10]Unlike others, he admitted that he occasionally runs his air conditioner for a short period. Several customers claimed that their bills started to increase after Beel switched over to digital meters. However, be maintains that no new system has been implemented for the calculation of bills.

[00:03:30]>> And when it come to you understand because I always keep on going one route I put on the light on nothing I take off the light.

[00:03:40]>> And have you seen any significant difference between then and like April?

[00:03:44]>> Right now see when it go up every time it go miss whenever gas go up everything goes on. As of now, BEAL maintains that sudden increases in bills are the result of rising temperatures. The company advises customers to keep buildings cool to lessen the blow to their bills.

[00:04:01]Britney Gordon for News 5.

[00:04:04]>> We reached out to be for further information and are still waiting an official response.