This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj93me9wveyo
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'We sit in the dark to save money on electricity in Guernsey' | 'We sit in the dark to save money on electricity in Guernsey' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pensioner Katina Jones said she already sat "in the dark" with lights out to save money on electricity | Pensioner Katina Jones said she already sat "in the dark" with lights out to save money on electricity |
| More than 100 protestors have demonstrated outside the head office of Guernsey Electricity Limited (GEL) against above-inflation price rises. | |
| The island's government-owned electricity company is raising its prices from the start of July, with some customers now paying more than they would in the UK. | The island's government-owned electricity company is raising its prices from the start of July, with some customers now paying more than they would in the UK. |
| Pensioner Katina Jones, 70, said she already sat "in the dark" with the lights out to save money on her bill and only used electricity in off-peak hours, when "it's cheap electric - otherwise we can't afford it". | Pensioner Katina Jones, 70, said she already sat "in the dark" with the lights out to save money on her bill and only used electricity in off-peak hours, when "it's cheap electric - otherwise we can't afford it". |
| A GEL spokesperson said the utility "absolutely understands the strength of feeling amongst some islanders" and the "impact on customers already struggling with the cost of living". | A GEL spokesperson said the utility "absolutely understands the strength of feeling amongst some islanders" and the "impact on customers already struggling with the cost of living". |
| The company, which is the island's only electricity provider, said it had "worked hard to keep this year's electricity tariff increase as low as possible". | The company, which is the island's only electricity provider, said it had "worked hard to keep this year's electricity tariff increase as low as possible". |
| Mrs Jones said: "I live in an area where there are lots of elderly people." | Mrs Jones said: "I live in an area where there are lots of elderly people." |
| She said many of her friends "stay in bed all day or with a blanket over them because they can't afford their heating on". | She said many of her friends "stay in bed all day or with a blanket over them because they can't afford their heating on". |
| "That's just not on," she added. | "That's just not on," she added. |
| Jayne Lesbirel used to work for Guernsey Electricity's predecessor, the States Electricity Board | Jayne Lesbirel used to work for Guernsey Electricity's predecessor, the States Electricity Board |
| Jayne Lesbirel, 65, retired recently but used to work for GEL's predecessor, the States Electricity Board, doing data input. | Jayne Lesbirel, 65, retired recently but used to work for GEL's predecessor, the States Electricity Board, doing data input. |
| She said: "We're on a pension, so we have to budget quite strictly. | She said: "We're on a pension, so we have to budget quite strictly. |
| "And we also look after our grandchildren, so we are at home a lot more than we were before when we were working. | "And we also look after our grandchildren, so we are at home a lot more than we were before when we were working. |
| "In the winter months, we can't say: 'Oh no. Sorry, we can't afford to put the heating on for you, so you'll have to go cold.'" | "In the winter months, we can't say: 'Oh no. Sorry, we can't afford to put the heating on for you, so you'll have to go cold.'" |
| She said she felt the reasons Guernsey Electricity gave for the price rises, such as historic underinvestment, were "just an excuse". | She said she felt the reasons Guernsey Electricity gave for the price rises, such as historic underinvestment, were "just an excuse". |
| "It's because they have a monopoly," she said. | "It's because they have a monopoly," she said. |
| Mandy Moriarty said the high standing charge was unfair as "you can't cut down" on it | Mandy Moriarty said the high standing charge was unfair as "you can't cut down" on it |
| Mandy Moriarty, 68, said it was unfair that the standing charge - which is rising to more than £85 - was the same for everyone regardless of how big their home was. | Mandy Moriarty, 68, said it was unfair that the standing charge - which is rising to more than £85 - was the same for everyone regardless of how big their home was. |
| She said: "You can't cut down on that. I think the fairer way would be to put a little bit more on the units that you use." | She said: "You can't cut down on that. I think the fairer way would be to put a little bit more on the units that you use." |
| "I live in a very old Guernsey cottage, which is stone and it's freezing in there in the winter, and I only run one radiator." | "I live in a very old Guernsey cottage, which is stone and it's freezing in there in the winter, and I only run one radiator." |
| She said she feared that, if prices rose at the same rate in future, she would have to turn the heating off altogether, adding: "Then you get damp, so that's not the answer." | She said she feared that, if prices rose at the same rate in future, she would have to turn the heating off altogether, adding: "Then you get damp, so that's not the answer." |
| "You shouldn't be sitting there freezing cold in this day and age because of greed." | "You shouldn't be sitting there freezing cold in this day and age because of greed." |
| GEL decided a few years ago to change the way its tariffs were structured, so people paid a higher fixed cost, known as the standing charge. | GEL decided a few years ago to change the way its tariffs were structured, so people paid a higher fixed cost, known as the standing charge. |
| It rose more than 380% between 2021 and July 2025 - from just under £18 to £86.75 a quarter. | It rose more than 380% between 2021 and July 2025 - from just under £18 to £86.75 a quarter. |
| That is nearly £40 a quarter more expensive than the highest standing charge allowed on the British mainland. | That is nearly £40 a quarter more expensive than the highest standing charge allowed on the British mainland. |
| So, why is it rising? | So, why is it rising? |
| Before 2022, GEL said 96% of its income came from charging people for using electricity - the unit charge. | Before 2022, GEL said 96% of its income came from charging people for using electricity - the unit charge. |
| However, as more people install renewable energy - such as solar panels - in their homes, this would mean the amount of money the company made dropped. | However, as more people install renewable energy - such as solar panels - in their homes, this would mean the amount of money the company made dropped. |
| This, in turn, has meant increasing the prices for people without renewables, so it could afford "the fixed costs of maintaining and upgrading the electricity network", the company said. | This, in turn, has meant increasing the prices for people without renewables, so it could afford "the fixed costs of maintaining and upgrading the electricity network", the company said. |
| A GEL spokesperson told the BBC the company planned to review how it charged for electricity to make it "sustainable" - including for customers "who place a lower strain on the island's electricity network". | A GEL spokesperson told the BBC the company planned to review how it charged for electricity to make it "sustainable" - including for customers "who place a lower strain on the island's electricity network". |
| They said "there will not be further large standing charge increases" until the review had been completed. | They said "there will not be further large standing charge increases" until the review had been completed. |
| Protest organiser Myles Duquemin said electricity was "not a luxury, it's a basic human right" | Protest organiser Myles Duquemin said electricity was "not a luxury, it's a basic human right" |
| Protest organiser Myles Duquemin said it was unfair the increased standing charge was "the same whether you're in a five-bedroom mansion or live in a one-bedroom flat". | Protest organiser Myles Duquemin said it was unfair the increased standing charge was "the same whether you're in a five-bedroom mansion or live in a one-bedroom flat". |
| "Electricity is not a luxury, it's a basic human right," he said. | "Electricity is not a luxury, it's a basic human right," he said. |
| He added he hoped "the rates come down and it's reviewed by the new deputies". | He added he hoped "the rates come down and it's reviewed by the new deputies". |
| Mr Duquemin said he had received many messages thanking him for organising the protest. | Mr Duquemin said he had received many messages thanking him for organising the protest. |
| He said many were from cancer suffers and survivors, as well as pensioners, adding: "They either couldn't speak up or felt too afraid to." | He said many were from cancer suffers and survivors, as well as pensioners, adding: "They either couldn't speak up or felt too afraid to." |
| More than 100 people attended Saturday's demonstration | More than 100 people attended Saturday's demonstration |
| GEL said it respected "our customers' right to raise their concerns and to attend the protest". | GEL said it respected "our customers' right to raise their concerns and to attend the protest". |
| A spokesperson for the company thanked Mr Duquemin for "his commitment to ensure the safety and security of our staff and premises on the day". | A spokesperson for the company thanked Mr Duquemin for "his commitment to ensure the safety and security of our staff and premises on the day". |
| The company took the decision to close its retail shop at its St Sampson headquarters on Saturday, as the protest was due to begin outside it. | The company took the decision to close its retail shop at its St Sampson headquarters on Saturday, as the protest was due to begin outside it. |
| GEL said: "Where a customer is concerned about their electricity bill, our advice is always to contact us as soon as possible if they are worried about falling into difficulty." | GEL said: "Where a customer is concerned about their electricity bill, our advice is always to contact us as soon as possible if they are worried about falling into difficulty." |
| "We also share information on our website about our tariffs, the reasons for recent increases, how we spend revenue and ways which consumers can save money on their bills." | "We also share information on our website about our tariffs, the reasons for recent increases, how we spend revenue and ways which consumers can save money on their bills." |
| Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. |