Laws to be drafted to stop further electricity price rises in Sark

The government of Sark, the Chief Pleas, has voted unanimously to draft new legislation to help prevent rises in the cost of electricity.

The proposed licensing law would help provide a reliable supply and protect the community from further price increases.

It comes after Sark Electricity Ltd increased their price per unit from 66p to 85p. Before the rise, Sark already had the highest cost of electricity in the world.

The rise was branded ‘neither fair nor reasonable’ by the Electricity Price Control Commissioner and there have been concerns that previous threats to shut off the power could be followed through.

Conseiller Sam La Trobe-Bateman said the island could not be held to ransom by ‘mad men with big switches'.

Once drafted, the law has to go to public consultation before being approved.

It can then take up to a year for it to be sent to the Privy Council for Royal Assent, but islanders hope the process can be fast-tracked.