BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Accommodations: Energy Surcharge
Bonaire Talk: Accommodations: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2006: Archives - 2005-08-17 to 2006-01-02: Energy Surcharge
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Friedman (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 10:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I recently heard that some of the properties are going to be charging a $7.50 per room night energy surcharge. This is due to the rising energy costs on Bonaire. This surcharge is supposed to be on your room bill at time of check out. I would like to hear from anyone who has already experienced this and what properties are doing this.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #690) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 12:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sorry, can't answer your specific question but wanted to pass this information on.....

A couple of years ago, the hotel industry in California tacked an energy surcharge on to their bills. Someone sued and it is now illegal to do so. Rising fuel costs, labor costs, increase in costs of supplies, etc. are costs of doing business. So expect nightly rates to increase.

This isn't to say that in Bonaire it is illegal to add the surcharge. Just want to pass on what the industry in the US has done.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By T-Shirt Divers John and Sue (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #269) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 12:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yes. This is true. We paid it @ the Divi starting Oct.1. I think all the hotels are doing it. The energy costs have doubled so the hotels are passing on the cost.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By andrew hamilton (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #104) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 5:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Interesting. I started a thread some time ago about the impact of the ever increasing oil price on Boanaire, but it was rather side-tracked into a discussion of Mr Chavez of Venuezuela and the rather strong attitudes of some against him.

My intent was to highlight how vulnerable Bonaire was to rising energy prices if they follow an energy policy based solely on the import of hydrocarbons. I had not expected impacts to be as significant already. On an average 10 day stay thats an extra $75 which is not small beer. I really think its time that concerned citizens started agitating about this because the price of hydrocarbons is only going one way mid and long term. I cannot see why Bonaire could not provide substantial windpower - I cant remember a day when I was on the island when the wind didnt blow!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Menno de Bree (BonaireTalker - Post #32) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 6:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Not all hotels do this. Maybe you can just ask the hotel where you will be staying if they are going to do so and what that charge will be.
I personally think it is not fair to have any charge for whatsoever at checkout. If the hotel is in need for extra payments because of raising costs, they should adjust their room rates, so the future guests can see the real rates and oversee the costs of their trip a lot better.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By The Ginocchio's @ Golden Reef Inn (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #884) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 6:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have to second Menno, not all are doing it. I highly suggest that when you contact accommodations you ask if they are charging the surcharge. This way you will know what you are going to be charged prior to arriving. This will help you plan your holiday accordingly. There is also a note in Flotsam and Jetsam about the WEB (Water and Electric Bureau) in the Bonaire Reporter, and about alternative power options, if anyone is interested in checking it out.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Friedman (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 11:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

T-Shirt,
Thanks for the information that you had to pay this surcharge at Divi Flamingo. Did you know about it ahead of time or was it a surprise to you when it showed on your hotel bill at checkout?
I have also heard that Plaza Resort and Captain Don's are also doing this surcharge. I have heard that several hotels are not going to do it. At least at this time.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John P. Wahlig (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #196) on Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 1:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Will shops also be adding a energy surcharge to each purchase? When I get ice cream, will they tack on an extra $1?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #429) on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 7:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think we'll all notice many price increases soon, if not already. Shops, markets, restaurants, etc, have the flexibility of being able to adjust prices more rapidly because we haven't pre-sold vacation packages at what now might be unreasonably low prices. Though there's only so much the market can absorb; I'm sure I'm not alone with the dilemma of how much to raise prices or change my menu mix, etc, to accommodate my huge costs due to the world fuel prices, that affect every aspect of life on an island where everything has to be shipped in. Between the increased shipping costs, and WEB-YIKES. I'm still in shock at having written a cheque to WEB (water/power co.) today for 11k fls (over $6k) for September's bills (double compared to just 4 mos ago). And that's just for KFC, not our house.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By andrew hamilton (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #105) on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 5:00 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for that input Ruth, very interesting. I think its fair to say that smaller, poorer nations will disproportionately feel the pain of rising energy costs (witness reports from other nations in Central America, such as Nicaragua), and when the nations concerned are small islands which are effectively 95% import dependent the problem is even worse. To then further compound the problem - Bonaire's main revenue earner is tourism which is an extremely price sensitive commodity; if the island was to become progressively more expensive a vicious cycle could be set up with increasing prices cutting the tourist take etc. Other islands in the Carribean stand to suffer to a greater or lesser extent of course, but I do think Bonaire is uniquely exposed to these problems. I am sure business people on the island must be minded to ensure the administration takes the problem very seriously; and if the supporters of peak oil theory are correct then this is really only the beginning of the energy surge. Time for the island to think urgently about the place of renewables in its energy mix, or to do deals to ensure oil supplies can be maintained at reasonable prices in the short term.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alan (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Saturday, October 29, 2005 - 1:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just wonder how this happens with a group trip and a contract? I'm not sure all our folks will appreciate an added cost when they think they are paid in full. There is no "surcharge" exception stated in any paperwork. I can understand costs going up, but.....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14978) on Saturday, October 29, 2005 - 6:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Alan, if you have a group contract already going, and have paid, or are about to pay, I would find out what the status is at the resort you are staying at. I stayed at Belmar for 3 nights a couple weeks ago and there was no extra charge, so not everyone is doing it at this point.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #282) on Saturday, October 29, 2005 - 7:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

i do know of some resorts as well as people who rent out thier houses and condos who might add a surcharge for leaving the airco on all day. most of the time it's not needed and it is an extra expense. but i haven't heard of anyone adding a charge just because their normal costs from WEB have gone up. some might, i just haven't heard of them.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #215) on Saturday, October 29, 2005 - 7:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Do these surcharges apply to already booked all-in packages? I'm at BelMar in February with a pre-paid package.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5663) on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 10:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Pat,

It's not as issue of electric utility costs having "gone up" - they have DOUBLED. My latest electricity bill is double what it was about 7 months ago, for the same amount of KWH usage. That means a $1000 bill for my latest electricity bill (granted, my office is in my house, but still - double the price for arguably worse service is not a good thing). Ouch!

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14981) on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 12:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake, can WEB charge whatever they want? Increase rates whenever they want? I guess I'll not complain about my last electric bill which was double ($188.00) what it normally is ($95.00).

I do have a question about the airco. What does it cost to run airco in a room say, 9 hours a day (while you are sleeping)? An estimate will do:-) I don't think some visitors to Bonaire don't realize how expensive it is. Plus, if WEB has raised rates like that Jake, the resorts must be taking a killing on electricity.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14982) on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 12:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sue, having just stayed at Belmar, and had prepaid my room, there were no extra charges.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5665) on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 1:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You sleep 9 hours a day? Whoa! :-)

At the old residential rates (note that commercial entities get charged even more than residential, and my bill was at the residential), WEB estimated that the average air conditioner costs NAF 80/month for night time operation. Figure at present rates that's about $100/month per air conditioner.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14990) on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 1:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake, at least 9! I have always needed a lot of sleep...LOL!

Wow, a hundred bucks a month for one AC. And commercial entities are charged more than residential? Wow...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #285) on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 5:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

cyn....i know what you do....9 hours of hard sleep followed by 15 hours of hard play...then repeat. keep it up.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14998) on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 7:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Pat, you got it!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By veronique ammon (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 - 11:04 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

When I was on the island I just wondered why the solar energy is not taken as an option. I couldn't see any of it on the island... or am I wrong and they are well hidden?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Hines (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 - 3:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I just received a proposal through Maduro for Captain Don's. They are charging $12 per night per unit for fuel surcharge. They also increased the 7-day package rate they offered us on 10/28/05 by $52 pp on 11/01/05. Things must be getting bad very fast!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15171) on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 - 5:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Veronique, I have a friend on the island who has been installing solar energy panels on houses...the problem is, 1. It's expensive shipping them to bon...2. having someone who knows what they are doing installing them...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2213) on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 - 6:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

With the rate of electricity price increases, even expensive panels could be amortized in a reasonable time.

Now if WEB would come up to date and accept power back from the panel installations and pay the panel owner for the power as is done in the States and, I am sure, many other places around the world.....Come to think of it, with WEB's record of erratic power, any home installation would require good isolation from the grid to be safe. Maybe not so good an idea on Bonaire now!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Lee (Moderator) (Moderator - Post #35) on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 - 6:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

To clarify on John's post, I just received this information (and I assure you it's accurate). Captain Don's, Divi, and Plaza have introduced "energy surgcharges."

Divi and Plaza:
Energy surcharge of $7.50 per room per night.

Captain Don's:
Energy surcharge of $7.50 per room per night for single bedroom units and $12.00 per night for 2 bedroom units.

I don't know if it's "retro active"...if you've already bought a package (i.e., it's been paid for) if these new surcharges apply. I'm waiting for more info.

 


Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites


Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration