Tariff Survey
The survey is an attempt to provide a facility for the comparison of tariffs applied in various utilities. There has been an increase in the number of members who request the tariff survey data. Therefore the Secretariat will again be conducting this survey in 2003. We are appealing to all utilities to provide the required data in order to make this exercise a success.

Caribbean Electric Utility Survey
The Electric Utility Survey is a periodic assessment of the operations of member utilities. It provides a source of basic comparative data on the operations of the utilities including general country data, financial data, technical and performance indicators.

Survey of Legal Instruments
The CARILEC Secretariat will make every attempt this year, to begin the process of creating a more enabling environment for the operation of our member electric utilities and associates. To this end, we will place greater emphasis on advocacy and seek to increase our lobbying efforts at any regional forum where issues affecting the industry are being addressed.

As a first step, we would like each member utility to make available to the Secretariat, copies of current legislation and regulations governing its operations for the Technical Library. Subsequent to this, we will undertake to bring regional policy makers together for a general review of the policies, legislation and regulations governing the industry.

Survey Regional Electricity Industry Standards
One of the areas of electric utility activity that requires urgent attention is the setting of regional standards for enhancing service delivery. The Secretariat proposes to conduct an indepth review of international and regional best practices to be followed by a regional benchmarking exercise aimed at upgrading standards in the electricity industry.

To this end, the Secretariat proposes to collaborate with the Electrical Inspectorates, educational institutions and professional associations in the Caribbean with an interest in the electricity industry. It is anticipated that this initiative will result in the development of a comprehensive programme for the accreditation, competency-building training, certification and licensing of professionals including electrical engineers and technicians and linesman.

Equipment and Accessories Survey
A new type of survey involving the listing of all utility generating units in member utilities will be initiated by the Secretariat this year. The findings of the survey will be used to establish of a database containing information about supplier, model, capacity, year of manufacture etc. It would also enable the Secretariat to be more pro-active in the dissemination of information relating to spare parts, used units etc. available in member utilities.