Sark heading over to the dark side... until Easter

Thursday 29 November 2018

One of the smallest Channel Islands is facing a huge energy crisis, with a total power outage planned for tomorrow, which could leave the island in the dark until Easter.

Sark's electricity provider is threatening to switch off power generators tomorrow, having been driven to bankruptcy by charging limits placed on it by the government - and a solution may take months to materialise.

Meanwhile, Sark could be left in the dark until Easter whilst the government process a purchase of the bankrupt Sark Electricity (SEL). 

Sark's politicians agreed at a meeting last night that they would buy the utility firm, once due diligence has been carried out.

As the island's politicians haven't yet seen any of the facts and figures related to the private company's accounts, they argue they can't spend public money without due diligence being done. The paperwork could be presented to the government "at as early a date as possible but no later than the Easter meeting 2019."

Pictured: The energy crisis could see the island left without power or water until Easter when generators are switched off tomorrow.

The owner of SEL, David Gordon-Brown, said he can't afford to keep the firm running indefinitely so he still intends to switch the power off at midnight on Friday. The situation is far more serious than just the power going out, as the island's water boreholes network is run on electricity so a public health emergency could arise without drinking or flushing water available.

David Gordon-Brown has said his firm is losing £20,000 a month since price controls were brought in, cutting Sark's electricity price to 52 pence per unit.

He said he can't walk into bankruptcy so he has no choice but to shut the power station down. The generators could be switched off despite Sark's 'ruler' warning he will use army tactics to ensure the island is "never again held to ransom" in this way.

With hundreds of people expected to stay on the island throughout the quieter winter months, plans are well advanced to survive the black out - with families filing bathtubs with water to flush the toilets, shops stocking up on bottled water and generators being brought over to keep key areas powered up.

Pictured: Sark's Seigneur, Major Christopher Beaumont, has stepped into the electricity crisis.

A local hotel which has its own generator has offered rooms to the island's most vulnerable residents so they can be assured of drinking water, flushing toilets, heating and cooked food.

Guernsey Police has sent two officers over to support the Sark Constable incase any tensions run over before or after the switch off.

Usually Guernsey Police has no jurisdiction in Sark and officers have to be asked to lend their support. This rarely happens, except for during times of Royal Visits or other high profile guests setting foot on Sark, so this adds to the highly unusual nature of events this month.