The deadline for providing comment as part of the consultation process for the island’s Integrated Resource Plan has been extended until October 31.

The original deadline date was September 30.

The IRP, once finalised, will determine the island’s future energy generation.

The Bermuda Electric Light Company has submitted an IRP proposal to the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda.

The RA has released that document to solicit comments as well as invite the submission of proposals for bulk generation or demand side resources which meet the guidelines and criteria set out in the invitation to comment document issued by the RA.

The RA said it will hold at least one public consultation for every alternative proposal received before the deadline, whether alone or together with other alternative proposals.

The regulatory body said it will also hold as many meetings as it deems necessary with the proponent of each alternative proposal, Belco, and anyone else that the RA considers relevant in order to assess the alternative proposals.

Concurrent with the consultation that closes at the end of this month, the RA is undertaking a further detailed analysis of the IRP proposal to determine whether it best balances the different priorities for the electricity market of Bermuda.

Belco will then prepare a draft final IRP for the review and approval of the RA. The draft IRP is to take any public comments and alternative proposals into consideration and will implement any comments of the RA.