But many told the Guernsey Press yesterday that they were afraid to be named for fear of repercussions.
Sark Electricity has added 60p-worth of legal tariffs to every unit of electricity sold on the island, taking prices to £1.13 for every unit used, said to be the most expensive electricity in the world. The price increases come in on Monday.
The island’s electricity price commissioner, Shane Lynch, is investigating whether the hike was ‘fair and reasonable’, but has said this will be likely to take until at least the end of September.
SEL managing director Alan Witney-Price introduced the levies, saying he needed to fund his legal case against the compulsory purchase of the company by Sark’s government, and court fees against any minimum price imposed by the price commissioner.
The Guernsey Press contacted businesses across the island, but found many feared to speak. The only one prepared to go on the record was Bernadette Southern, who runs the Fleur du Jardin cafe, which is owned by her parents.
‘It’s just getting out of hand,’ she said.
‘I don’t mind paying for power, but I don’t see why we are paying for anything else. We close down in October at the end of the season and now we will probably have to shut down all the fridges and freezers because we can’t afford to keep them on.’
She said she felt the saga over who controls the power to Sark had gone on too long.
‘It is us who are having to pay for the island’s mistakes,’ she said. ‘But I don’t agree with compulsory purchase. I think he [Mr Witney-Price] should be allow to sell the company to who he likes.’
Another business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were worried about being ‘screwed over’ by SEL, and that individuals were worried about speaking out on such a small island.
‘We are all obviously concerned as prices have more than doubled. It’s ridiculous,’ he said.
‘It’s not just businesses who are worried, it’s everyone. One of the main concern for locals is the cost of food, it’s already really high. The shops have fridges and freezers and they will be having to pay more from Monday. Will we see prices go up?’
Sark Seigneur Christopher Beaumont, whose home hosts events, suggested earlier this week that people would not pay the extra legal levy, but the business owner disagreed.
‘People will be scared of being cut off and they will toe the line,’ he said.
‘I’ll probably pay, as without electricity my business simply can’t function. If we are not going to pay we would all have to act together and then what would happen? We are at the whim of one private individual, I can’t see an end to it and I reckon it will drag on for ages.’
Another business owner estimated her monthly bill would now exceed £5,000.
‘Soon Sark will no longer have any businesses,’ she said. ‘It’s shocking for us but I’m really concerned about the wider community. What about the elderly as we approach winter who are already struggling? It is scary for everyone.
'I’ve no idea what is going to happen with the compulsory purchase. It’s really hard to add anything else because I just don’t know what we are going to do.’
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