Unlike the other Channel Islands which have publicly or government-owned utilities, Sark’s electricity

generation and distribution system is privately-owned by Sark Electricity Limited (SEL).

Sark’s electricity generation is from a power station equipped with four diesel engines which are at the end of their serviceable life, (although one has been replaced with a second hand engine). The transformers - the green boxes around the island which step power down from 6,600 volts to 400/230 volt supply - have an average age of 38 and some are 70 years old. Sark Chief Pleas have commissioned a number of independent electrical engineers to assess the system. The system has been deemed obsolete, in some parts dangerous, and in need of complete replacement.

A group of houses in the north of the island have been cut off from the electricity grid for some years and is being supplied by temporary generators installed by Chief Pleas. Some of the equipment is likely to contain PCBs, which represents a serious health hazard if leakages occur.

In September 2023, during the Build a Boat Race event, an island resident received a serious electric shock from the metal frame of a refrigeration trailer that was not connected to any power supply. The trailer had become electrified from the cable running underground below it due to an earthing fault in the SEL cables and the SEL safety protection system failing. Thankfully, he has mostly recovered.

Something needs to be done. Whilst it is a daunting task, this is an opportunity for the people of Sark to establish an island-owned system that is safe, reliable and fit for the future.

The EIS and Energypeople assessments both concluded that the majority of the existing generation and distribution system needs replacing and that the best option is a replacement system.

We will look at potential cost savings if parts of the existing system can be retained. This will only be possibly if SEL agrees to sell the assets.