People in Alderney will pay less for their electricity, after the island’s politicians agreed a temporary £200,000 subsidy.
The island’s top committee, Policy and Finance (P&F), approved the subsidy, which will be applied directly to customers’ electricity bills.
Jeannie Cameron, Chair of the P&F, said the temporary measure provided “protection against exceptional fuel price increases while ensuring that public funds are only used where they are genuinely needed”.
“The recent rise in global oil prices has the potential to place additional financial pressure on households and businesses at a time when many are already managing increased costs,” she added.
Unlike Guernsey and Jersey, Alderney does not have an undersea cable supplying electricity from France, so it’s reliant on diesel fuel to generate electricity – making the island more susceptible to fluctuations in fuel prices.
The discount will be applied from 1 July to the end of the year.
It will only kick in when crude oil prices rise to $100 a barrel or more at the point Alderney Electricity Limited (AEL) buys it.
Ms Cameron said the subsidy represented a “balanced and responsible approach to providing short-term assistance should high oil prices persist”.
