Policy & Finance wants to start talks with other commercial suppliers for an alternative electricity supply, but SEL’s Alan Witney-Price argued that this was just a distraction from what he saw as a major failing over supply of electricity over La Coupee, linking Sark and Little Sark, and a breakdown between the company and the committee.
‘This proposal from P&F is pure theatre and serves no practical purpose,’ he said.
‘SEL does not have a monopoly, any competitor can enter the market at any time.’
He added that authorities were ‘choosing brinkmanship rather than dialogue’.
Mr Witney-Price had previously warned that he would have to cut off power to Little Sark next week if an agreement was not reached to allow the company to replace the electricity link across La Coupee.
He welcomed the tender process in order for outdated equipment in the island to be replaced to a defined set of local, enforceable health and safety standards.
‘Once Chief Pleas issue the necessary permissions, that is exactly what I will do,’ he said.
‘This will give SEL a benchmark against which to operate and deliver new equipment and grid upgrades.’
Mr Witney-Price has been in dispute with Policy & Finance for months over supply across La Coupee. He said he submitted an application to repair the links in November 2021 which has been met with ‘an enduring silence’.
He said the committee was unhappy that infrastructure did not meet basic British standards but he was being stopped from maintaining it.
Policy & Finance intends to publish a report to take Chief Pleas to seek debate and policy direction this month.
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