Gas standing charge is set to increase by 10%
Gas prices are on the rise again as Guernsey Energy is set to increase its standing charge by 10%.
The increase, which will apply to both domestic and business customers, comes in on Tuesday 14 May.
Guernsey Energy said that for the average household this equated to around 4p per day, £1.16p a month, or approximately £13.90 a year.
Islands Energy Group CEO Jo Cox said the increase reflected inflationary pressures which have seen the cost of supplying gas rise.
‘We last reviewed our standing charges in 2020 as we try to keep our customers’ tariffs and costs as low as we can for as long as we can.
‘However, we do need to review our charges and costs on a regular basis,’ she said.
‘We continue to invest in our network, infrastructure, and research into renewable and low carbon gas to deliver our net zero targets.’
She added that vulnerable customers in the company’s Priority Care scheme, and those who were struggling to pay their bills, should contact the company’s customer service team.
'We take our duty of care to customers very seriously, and make extra provisions for those who require extra support,’ she said.
Customers of Guernsey Energy and Island Energy pay a standing charge – a fixed daily charge to cover the cost of being connected to the energy network, which contributes to the cost of installing and maintaining the gas network.
It is paid in addition to the unit rate, regardless of how much gas is used.
Islands Energy raised gas prices 16.9% in October 2021, which led to the States running a support scheme for the poorest islanders caught up in the increase. The unit price rose by a further 8% in January this year.
On the day the announcement was made, Kings Road in St Peter Port faced an emergency closure due to a gas leak.
The road is currently due to reopen on Friday.
A spokesman for Traffic & Highways Services said that there were set conditions for Guernsey Gas to work extra hours on this incident to minimise the length of the works.
The diversion for traffic from Mount Row is via Queens road and Les Croutes. Going south from Les Croutes, Rue a L’Or and Richmond Avenue have been made one-way, bypassing King’s Road. Cyclists are able to pass through the road closure with care.
Queens Road, which runs parallel to King’s Road was due to reopen to two-way traffic this morning after being closed for a cabling upgrade.
A planned closure to Mount Row that was scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed.
