Objection against price increase for electricity and water

1. Correspondentieadres:
UNKOBON
Postbus 194
Bonaire, Caribisch Nederland
Tel: +599 717 4318
Fax: +599 717 4518
Email: info@consumentenbonaire.com
Mr G Vogelesang
WEB
Kaya Carlos A. Nicolaas 3
Bonaire, Caribisch Nederland
Your reference:
Our reference : BR121102/Objection WEB/he
Re: Objection against price increase for electricity and water
Bonaire, 2 November 2012
Dear Mr Vogelesang,
On October 24th, 2012 your website stated that on October 17th, 2012 the “Openbaar
Lichaam” had adjusted the tariffs for water and electricity and that these new tariffs would
take effect on October 1st, 2012.
Our objection is twofold:
One
From the somewhat twisted wording of article 19 paragraph 7 of the general conditions, it
could be concluded that tariff adjustments will take effect from the day they have been
agreed. Is it therefore legal that you back date the tariffs to October 1st, 2012? You and the
Executive Council appear to be ignoring the long existing and generally accepted
understanding that the consumer should be informed of such increases reasonably in
advance of them taking effect. You have gone so far as to back date these substantial price
increases. Many customers in view of their precarious financial position will have to prepare
themselves for this increase. In view of this it would be interesting to know what the
“Eilandsraad” thinks about this.
Two
Should you not be prepared to give a sufficient notice period for the price increase to take
place, our second objection applies.
We have found that our invoices dated November 1st, 2012 show the new tariffs for both
water and electricity for consumption in September 2012. This is contrary to the decision of
the “Openbaar Lichaam” to increase the tariffs as from October 1st, 2012. We therefore look
forward to a correction for this unauthorised increase.

2. Correspondentieadres:
UNKOBON
Postbus 194
Bonaire, Caribisch Nederland
Tel: +599 717 4318
Fax: +599 717 4518
Email: info@consumentenbonaire.com
According to article 21 paragraph 5 of the general conditions the raising of objections does
not allow the consumer to stop paying their bill until the matter has been sorted. We
therefore request that you urgently correct the invoices before their due date to prevent us
from taking further action on behalf of our members.
We look forward to your earliest reply
Yours sincerely
Unkobon
Office Consumers Union Bonaire
Email: secretariaat@consumentenbonaire.com
C.c. per email:
Members Consumers Union UNKOBON
Members Eilandsraad Bonaire
Rijksvertegenwoordiger CN
Bestuurscollege Bonaire
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