Dominica’s primary electricity provider, Dominica Electricity Services Ltd (DOMLEC), has announced that its July 2026 fuel surcharge will be set at 33 cents per kilowatt-hour, a reduction made possible by the rapid scaling of geothermal energy integration into the island’s national power grid, according to the company’s Public Relations Officer Ayeola George.
In an official statement released to the public, George outlined the sharp, steady growth of geothermal energy’s share in Dominica’s renewable generation mix over the first half of 2026. Back in March, geothermal contributed just 6 percent of the country’s total renewable power output. By April, that share had jumped nearly four and a half times to 26 percent. When combined with the existing hydroelectric power capacity, total renewable energy penetration across the national grid reached 51 percent that month.
This upward trajectory continued through the spring, George confirmed, with total renewable penetration climbing to 58 percent in May. By the end of June, the milestone figure of 68 percent was reached, marking renewables as the dominant source of electricity generation for the island nation.
This shift away from fossil fuel-dependent generation has delivered immediate tangible benefits for both DOMLEC and its customers, George explained. As renewable energy output grows month over month, the country’s reliance on diesel for power generation has fallen dramatically. From January’s consumption level of 373,000 gallons of diesel, the monthly usage dropped by almost half to just 194,000 gallons by June 2026.
While DOMLEC has no ability to influence global or regional diesel pricing, the reduced reliance on the fossil fuel has drastically cut its impact on overall electricity generation costs. “The cost-benefit of expanding geothermal energy is significant — not just for DOMLEC as a company, but for every single one of our customers,” George emphasized.
Without the integration of geothermal capacity into the grid, George noted, the July 2026 fuel surcharge would be nearly double the current rate, coming in at 63 cents per kilowatt-hour instead of the 33 cents that customers will see on their upcoming bills. “This is the true, tangible impact of investing in geothermal,” she said.
George also acknowledged that customers experienced a number of power outages across June, but highlighted that even with those operational challenges, DOMLEC still achieved the landmark 68 percent renewable penetration rate. She thanked the Dominican public for their patience and understanding as the company and its partner organizations continue the ongoing work of integrating more renewable energy resources into the national grid.
The achievement of 68 percent renewable penetration through geothermal and hydro power is being hailed as a major milestone for Dominica’s energy transition, positioning the island as a growing leader in Caribbean renewable energy adoption.