Higher electricity tariffs on the way - Roffey

Currently a lot of the power used in Guernsey is brought in from Europe via a cable

The politician in charge of Guernsey's utilities has warned higher tariffs for electricity are coming.

In a debate on Guernsey Electricity's accounts for 2023, Deputy Peter Roffey said the current agreement with EDF had "protected" Guernsey from price increases.

But he warned a lack of investment in the current grid in the last 10 years meant tariffs would need to increase in the next few years.

The current deal with EDF is set to run out in 2027.

'Proper resilience'

States Trading Supervisory Board President Peter Roffey said the negotiations between Guernsey Electricity, Jersey Electricity and European providers had been "going well", with regards to a new deal to get power from Europe.

He said it was "likely" the new contract would be with EDF, but the party from the Channel Islands was talking to lots of power providers across Europe.

Earlier this year the STSB approved a 10% increase in electricity bills which Guernsey Electricity said for the average domestic customer with electric heating the overall increase would be about £63 per quarter.

Electricity standing charges also rose by more than 35%.

Mr Roffey criticised what he called decades of under-investment in the island's grid and warned because of this prices would continue to rise.

"There just needs to be a catch up in investment in our infrastructure in Guernsey, so the capital investment has been cranked up and needs to be cranked up further," he said.

"It needs to happen if we are going to have proper resilience and proper infrastructure."