CHANNEL ISLANDS ELECTRICITY GRID LTD

The Channel Islands Electricity Grid is the joint venture company set up in 1998 between Guernsey Electricity and Jersey Electricity to manage the business opportunities presented by the submarine cable interconnectors to Europe and between the Islands. The CIEG manages the bulk electricity supply contract from Europe and seeks to improve network reliability and optimise generation by encouraging greater cooperation between the two owning companies, reducing local emissions and ensuring a more secure electricity supply for customers.

There are two 90,000 volt submarine cables that supply power from France to Jersey and on to Guernsey. The first cable was installed in 1984, is fluid filled for insulation and is capable of supplying up to 55 MW of power. The second cable uses XLPE plastic for insulation and was commissioned in 2000, and it can provide the islands with up to 90 MW of power from Europe.

The CIEG now supplies between 50 to 80% of Guernsey's and 95% of Jersey's annual electricity power requirements and usually meets the full island load for almost 9 months of the year. Annually, the CIEG imports nearly 1,000 GWh from Europe.