GEL decided a few years ago to change the way its tariffs were structured, so people paid a higher fixed cost, known as the standing charge.
It rose more than 380% between 2021 and July 2025 – from just under £18 to £86.75 a quarter.
That is nearly £40 a quarter more expensive than the highest standing charge allowed on the British mainland.
So, why is it rising?
Before 2022, GEL said 96% of its income came from charging people for using electricity – the unit charge.
However, as more people install renewable energy – such as solar panels – in their homes, this would mean the amount of money the company made dropped.
This, in turn, has meant increasing the prices for people without renewables, so it could afford “the fixed costs of maintaining and upgrading the electricity network”, the company said.
A GEL spokesperson told the BBC the company planned to review how it charged for electricity to make it “sustainable” – including for customers “who place a lower strain on the island’s electricity network”.
They said “there will not be further large standing charge increases” until the review had been completed.
