THE Law Officers and the Office of Utility Regulation failed to consult fully over proposed changes to the electricity law that have been in the pipeline for more than six years.

An ordinance that would have paved the way for competition in the electricity retail sector in the future is being withdrawn after Commerce and Employment was told about problems it would cause – but only after it had been published at the beginning of the month.

Department minister Carla McNulty Bauer will ask for permission from the States to withdraw the ordinance from debate today, but may alongside the Law Officers face questions about how the matter had got so far without the problems being spotted.

The department did not say whether Guernsey Electricity had been consulted and the Law Officers refused to comment.

‘The Law Officers have prepared an amendment to the Electricity (Guernsey) Law, 2001 in accordance with the States resolution of 29 January 2003 and in close consultation with the Office of Utility Regulation,’ said Deputy McNulty Bauer.

‘However, it has come to the Commerce and Employment Department’s attention that there is a need for further consultation to resolve a number of issues set out in the ordinance.

‘These relate to detailed technical points which would pose implementation problems if approved in the current form.’