Guernsey's 9% electricity rise expected to remain

Islanders are being warned the 9% price rise in electricity, due to come into force at midnight, is likely to remain for several years.

The price rise is to offset additional costs faced by Guernsey Electricity after a cable link failure to France forced it to produce on-island power.

The company said the rise would cost customers between £3 and £10 per month.

Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher said ongoing problems meant the price will "not come back down any time soon".

Mr Kuttelwascher said: "It will be five or six years before any new cable can actually be laid due to all sorts of regularity issues."

The undersea cable link with Jersey had allowed the island to import power from France.

Mr Kuttelwascher said: "When we can actually start importing the electricity we will only be able to import about a quarter of our maximum requirements as Jersey is down to one electricity cable."

Guernsey Electricity managing director Alan Bates said the "price rise of this size was not ideal" but the fault had led to increased costs, which are now being passed on to customers.