Guernsey Electricity

Guernsey Electricity Limited (GE) is the sole commercial electricity supplier in Guernsey. GE has been operating for over 100 years, moving from local generation of power from coal, and later oil, to investing in cables to connect into the grids in Jersey and France through the Channel Islands Electricity Grid.

In 1887 a dynamo was used to generate street lighting in front of Randalls Brewery in the Avenue, followed in 1897 by a water powered first domestic installation at Le Chalet, Fermain bay.

In 1898 Edmundsons Electricity Corporation was granted the concession to build and operate an electricity supply in Guernsey. 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) of cables would have to be installed below ground within two years. In February 1900 150kw could be generated from the power station at Les Amballes, St Peter Port.

Prepayment meters had to be provided that would take English or French coins, there being three currencies in operation in Guernsey at that time, £1 Guernsey being equal to 19s British and 10d Guernsey being equal to 1 French franc. Units being sold at 7d for the first unit per day and 4d thereafter.

The quarry industry needed electricity for cranes and in 1902 it was decided to build a second power station at St Sampson’s taking generating capacity to 870kw with units supplied rising from 65,000 to 1.75m a year in 1910. A 2,500volt DC cable connected the two generating centres. A battery storage system was used to provide a 24 hour service meaning the generators only needed to operate four days a week. With 1,000 consumers by 1910, the average price per unit fell to an average of 2½d.

In 1907 a company was formed, Guernsey Electric Light and Power Company Limited to run the Edmunsons business in Guernsey. Between 1908 and 1911 diesel generators were installed at both power stations, increasing capacity to 1,340kw. An explosion in November 1918 at the Vale power station left the road covered in debris. The increased price of coal and oil during World War I and the requirement to expand the network resulted in a new law which increased tariffs and allowed overhead lines to be installed in country areas.

In 1933 the States of Guernsey cancelled the concession and acquired the business at a cost of £285,500 at which time the capacity was 3.73MW with 2,928 consumers on 165 kilometres (103 mi) of cables with 8 sub stations. It would be supervised by the States Electricity Board.

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Wikipedia