COMMERCE and Employment faces questions over the operation of the Office of Utility Regulation.

After a failed attempt at the September States meeting to get the regulator’s annual report debated, Deputy David De Lisle (pictured) is to see to it the issue is aired during question time instead.

‘The past year has seen the introduction of a third telecom operator to Guernsey, he said.  ‘And so there is a need to assess the current situation and the future role of government in telecommunications, particularly in view of the objectives of the OUR to promote competition and introduce new entrants into the marketplace.’

He said that the OUR was looking to reduce the focus of regulation where market competition was becoming more effective and review licence terms, so that competition rather than regulation will ensure consumer interests are protected.

The new competition law may further enable the regulatory function of OUR to step back, he said.