Ahead of a protest against its next price increases, Guernsey Electricity has said that it “absolutely understands the strength of feeling amongst some islanders”.

The utility told Express that it appreciates the tariff increases coming in from 1 July “will have an impact on customers that are already struggling with the cost of living”.

GEL said it respects the rights of all who plan to attend the event on 14 June, and ask that all staff are treated with respect by those protesting “as the power station site will be operational and our teams will need to deliver their work for the island in the normal manner”.

It has also sought to explain the need for the price increases – and its longer term plans for reducing costs – in a lengthy statement shared with Express and published in full HERE.

Pictured: Myles Duquemin is planning the protest against GEL’s latest price rises.

Myles Duquemin announced his protest – which hundreds of people have said they intend to attend – earlier this week, just days after the States Trading Supervisory Board said it had agreed GEL could put its prices up across tariffs and standing charges to raise an extra 8% of revenue through its customers.

He told Express he was compelled to act after speaking with other people who will struggle even more financially when GEL’s prices go up in July.

“So many people have messaged me saying this increase is going to push them into poverty. They’re already struggling to survive, and this hike could be the tipping point,” he said.

While acknowledging that some customers are “already struggling with the cost of living”, GEL has also said that it has tried to keep its prices low while also maintaining our electricity supplies.

“The company has worked hard to keep this year’s electricity tariff increase as low as possible, balancing this with the need to invest the appropriate amount in our electricity infrastructure to maintain a secure supply to our customers with minimal interruptions, against a backdrop where the company was unable to raise tariffs for a decade,” GEL explained.

“We continue to work closely with local charitable and volunteer organisations and consulted them directly on the reasons behind this year’s tariff application, as we have for the previous three years,” it added.

Pictured: An example of a GEL bill.

“Where a customer is concerned about their electricity bills, we work collaboratively with a range of organisations to support customers with payment plans, guidance on electricity efficiency, and to improve our help and guidance offering.”

In explaining its long term plans, the utility told Express that it plans to invest in new infrastructure such as metering systems, which could lead to changes in the way standing charges are levied.

“Noting the concerns around fixed charges, GEL would like to make clear that there are longer term plans in place to support how we can reform such charges to our customers – particularly those who place a lower strain on the island’s electricity network,” a GEL spokesperson said.

“This work will require investment in a domestic metering system which can account for the relative strain a customer might place on the network and why such a change cannot be introduced immediately.

“In addition, a full review of tariff cost reflectivity will also be undertaken to identify how costs are incurred and how they can be more fairly recovered through individual tariffs.

“Until this work is complete, there will be no further increases to the standing charge above 15% of electricity sales revenue.”

The full statement issued by Guernsey Electricity can be read HERE.