Grand Cayman Electricity Cost (CUC)
Current residential rates plus an estimator that projects your monthly bill by home size and air-conditioning use. Air conditioning drives 50% to 75% of a typical Grand Cayman power bill. All figures in KYD.
Electricity Costs in Grand Cayman (CUC)
Electricity in Grand Cayman is supplied by CUC (Caribbean Utilities Company) and generated primarily from diesel, which makes it significantly more expensive than most North American and European cities. All rates are in CI$ (Cayman Islands Dollars).
Current residential rates: energy charge CI$0.1387/kWh, fuel cost charge CI$0.1800/kWh (2026-10), no fuel duty charge while the government duty waiver runs (CI$0.0132/kWh before it), renewables surcharge CI$0.0059/kWh, licence and regulatory fee CI$0.0076/kWh on use above 1,000 kWh, and a fixed facility charge of CI$6.96/month. The all-in variable rate works out to approximately CI$0.3322/kWh. Government relief holds the fuel cost charge at CI$0.18/kWh and waives the fuel duty through 31 December 2026; without it the all-in rate would be about CI$0.4078/kWh.
How Much Is a Typical Monthly Electricity Bill?
The bill depends almost entirely on air conditioning, which accounts for 50% to 75% of household consumption. Typical monthly consumption ranges from minimal to heavy A/C use: studio 450 to 810 kWh, 1-bedroom 650 to 1,170 kWh, 2-bedroom 870 to 1,560 kWh, 3-bedroom 1,200 to 2,160 kWh, and 4-bedroom or larger 1,650 to 2,970 kWh. At current rates, an average household using about 1,158 kWh runs roughly CI$384 per month (about CI$472 once the government relief ends on 31 December 2026), and summer bills (July to September) run 15% to 25% higher. Use the estimator on this page to project your own bill by home size and usage.
When the fuel cap ends
The government cap that holds CUC's residential fuel charge at CI$0.18 per kWh ends on 31 December 2026, and so does the fuel duty waiver. At the October 2026 fuel charge of CI$0.2425 per kWh, an average home's bill would rise by about 23%.
| Monthly use | Bill now | After the relief | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | CI$169 | CI$207 | +CI$38 |
| 1,000 kWh | CI$332 | CI$407 | +CI$75 |
| 1,158 kWh (average home) | CI$384 | CI$472 | +CI$88 |
| 2,000 kWh | CI$664 | CI$815 | +CI$151 |
No further extension or replacement had been announced by 28 October 2026; the government describes the relief as time-limited. The cap is applied by month of use, so December's use, billed in January, is still capped, and the first bill without it is for January's use.
Estimate. "Bill now" caps the fuel charge on the first 2,000 kWh and has no fuel duty charge, which CUC's fuel cost table has not shown since August. "After the relief" uses the uncapped fuel charge plus fuel duty at CI$0.0132 per kWh, the last figure CUC published (July). Energy charge, facility charge, renewables charge and the licence and regulatory fee (on use above 1,000 kWh) stay at current tariffs. The fuel charge resets every month, so January's will differ. Sources: CUC fuel cost table, Cayman Islands Government, 28 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cayman Islands
How much is electricity in Grand Cayman?
The all-in residential rate from CUC works out to roughly CI$0.33 per kWh once the energy charge, fuel cost charge, renewables surcharge, and licence and regulatory fee are combined, plus a small fixed monthly facility charge. The government relief holds the fuel charge at CI$0.18/kWh and waives the fuel duty until 31 December 2026. An average household using about 1,158 kWh runs roughly CI$384 a month, and summer bills run higher with A/C load. The estimator on /electricity projects your bill by home size.
What happens to my CUC bill when the fuel cap ends?
The government cap that holds CUC's residential fuel charge at CI$0.18 per kWh ends on 31 December 2026, along with the fuel duty waiver, and no further extension had been announced by 28 October 2026. At the October 2026 fuel charge of CI$0.2425 per kWh, an average home using 1,158 kWh a month would go from about CI$384 to about CI$472, an increase of about CI$88. The cap is applied by month of use, so the first bill without it is for January's use. The fuel charge changes every month, so this is an estimate; the table on /electricity/ updates with each new CUC rate.
Why is electricity so expensive in the Cayman Islands?
CUC generates most of Grand Cayman's electricity from imported diesel, which is expensive and exposes bills to global fuel prices through a separate fuel cost charge. Heavy year-round air conditioning, which accounts for 50% to 75% of a typical household's usage, compounds the cost.
What is the voltage in the Cayman Islands?
The Cayman Islands uses 120 volts at 60 Hz, the same as the US and Canada, with US-style plugs and sockets (types A and B). Appliances from the US and Canada work without any adapter. Appliances from the UK and Europe (230 volts, 50 Hz) need a plug adapter, and a voltage converter too unless the label says they are dual-voltage (100-240V), as most phone and laptop chargers are.
Who provides electricity in Grand Cayman?
CUC (Caribbean Utilities Company) is the sole electricity provider in Grand Cayman, operating as a regulated monopoly overseen by OfReg. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman are served separately. Residential customers pay an energy charge plus a monthly fuel cost charge that changes with diesel prices.
How can I lower my CUC bill in Grand Cayman?
Air conditioning is the biggest lever since it drives 50% to 75% of the bill: a higher thermostat setting, efficient inverter units, and good insulation make the largest difference. Solar (CUC's CORE/distributed generation programmes) can offset usage, and LED lighting plus efficient appliances help at the margin. Use the estimator on /electricity to see how usage changes your projected bill.