PUBLIC sector agencies will see budget cuts if they don’t reduce their electricity bills, according to Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell.

Speaking at the launch of the ministry’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme yesterday, Paulwell said the energy bills of those government bodies, which will be improved under the project, will be scrutinised for an expected reduction in electricity costs.

“After today, your energy consumption must only go down,” said Paulwell. “If you increase energy consumption over your current levels, you can expect a negative impact on your overall budgetary allocation.”

He added that over 10 per cent of the country’s energy is consumed by the public sector alone.

The new initiative will see energy efficient infrastructural changes at government agencies, at a cost of $9.6 billion.

The programme, which is funded by a loan from the International Development Bank (IDB), is tipped to save the government $2.6 billion yearly in electricity expenses.