Electricity in the Bahamas is provided by one company which supplies all residents with the exception of those on Grand Bahama Island. The Bahamas Electricity Corporation is owned and run by the government. Residents have to pay a security deposit to the electricity company when they are connected and the amount will vary depending upon the size of the building. The average paid is around $200 but amounts as high as $1000 have been charged for some properties. On the island of Grand Bahama, electricity is supplied by the Freeport Power Company.

The demand for electricity is growing by around 5% each year, and in some areas this demand can cause power shortages. The demand has also seen the cost of electricity to the consumer rise considerably over the last few years. High numbers of people had their electricity disconnected when they were unable to pay their bills and the government was forced to step in and provide assistance.

The electrical system in use is the same as that in the US, so travellers from Europe will need adaptors for their appliances, but these can usually be purchased locally in the larger towns.

There are several government departments which work together to ensure that clean tap water is supplied to every home. These are the Ministries of Health and the Environment, Public Works and Utilities and Agriculture. The day to day running is managed by the Bahamas Water and Sewerage Corporation and is the only water company in the country. Residents are charged a security deposit which is calculated according to the number of bathrooms in the property. There is a request form at the company’s website for prospective customers to complete to request water services. Again, there is a different company which supplies the island of Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Utility Co.

Tap water is considered to be safe to drink, although bottled water is popular in the country mainly due to the flavour and several brands are imported into the country. Official advice from various countries may tell you to avoid tap water if you prefer to err on the side of caution.

Property owners are usually billed on a monthly basis for electricity charges. Water bills are usually sent on a quarterly basis. It is possible to pay some bills online, although there are still some banks which do not allow this, which means standing in line, often for over an hour.