From David O’Byrne.
I’M surprised in recent discussions over the 25 per cent increase in electricity charges that little mention has been made of the monopoly that this utility company enjoys.

Both Alan Breckon and Lyndon Farnham have suggested bringing the company back into public ownership, but neither has stressed the lack of choice that people have when choosing an energy supplier.

Ninety per cent of the electricity used in Jersey is produced by EDF in France. Should not EDF, in competition with JEC, be allowed to sell electricity here direct to consumers? EDF sells electricity to UK consumers, as do a number of gas companies. Where there is only one supplier of a strategic product such as electricity in the Island, then that company should be publicly owned or have its charges controlled by the States – we have no choice but to buy our electricity from the JEC.

My home is totally dependent on electricity. We have no gas. Those who do have gas can at least choose between two suppliers, Jersey Gas and Kosangas.

Mr Ambler of the JEC says that as a publicly listed company, he has a duty to provide dividends to shareholders. He seems to overlook the fact that the vast majority of listed companies are not paying dividends in the current economic climate. I understand how the market works and appreciate both sides of the argument regarding utilities.

However, compared to the UK, we are in a unique position in Jersey in having only one supplier of a strategic product on which we all depend.
C1 Perquage Court,
Sandybrook,
St Lawrence.