JERSEY Electricity is remaining tight-lipped over whether a potential merger with its Guernsey counterpart is on the horizon – after the Sarnian’s Chief Minister launched a bid to explore ‘closer collaboration’ on energy resilience.
Deputy Peter Ferbrache is pushing to start a discussion with Jersey on whether the electricity companies should merge, as both islands consider the role of renewables in their future.
He revealed this week that his Policy and Resources Committee would be asking Guernsey politicians to agree to explore ‘closer collaboration’ over energy.
The news comes just a few months after Deputy Ferbrache – who spoke at the latest British-Irish Council summit – said he felt there was now ‘more than ever’ a wish for both islands to try to work together.
Jersey Electricity yesterday said it would not be commenting, after being asked about the possibility of greater collaboration and potentially becoming a single entity for the Channel Islands’ power needs.
Following research by Siemens and PwC on ‘the challenges for smaller jurisdictions in the current global environment’, Deputy Ferbrache said that his committee had come to the view that ‘the challenges will be more readily met by a much more collaborative approach on infrastructure and delivery’.
If politicians vote in favour of the committee’s proposal next week, a review will be undertaken into how Guernsey Electricity Ltd (wholly owned by the island’s States) and Jersey Electricity Ltd (56% public-owned) might work together more collaboratively, and what the benefits and challenges would be in potentially establishing ‘a single, consolidated Channel Islands electricity delivery model’.
This will include direct discussions with Jersey’s government.
‘Greater energy independence should be considered from a Channel Islands community perspective, not solely from a Guernsey perspective,’ Deputy Ferbrache said.
Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf and Assistant Minister Hilary Jeune, who has political responsibility for energy policy, also declined to comment.
