This is in an effort to reduce the number of postal visits that need to be made while we all observe the necessary social distancing. All customer specific correspondence will of course be continue by email where we have it and by post where entirely necessary.

COVID-19 PLANNING

• Given the circumstances, It would be helpful if we can maintain communication through electronic rather than postal methods. Could we please ask those of you that have an email address to ensure that we have a current one on file so that we can keep you up to date as the situation progresses.

• The team have been working hard to clean disused diesel storage tanks in an effort to increase our available on Island storage capacity in the unlikely event that supplies are affected. The team now have a standing instruction to maintain maximum storage levels at all times while this pandemic continues.

• I have already doubled the available cash reserves on hand to support the balance sheet at this time and I will monitor the financial situation as it progresses in an effort to ensure that supply continues.

• Where at all possible I would ask customers to avoid coming into the office. We will not be at all offended if you simply post cheques and correspondence through the letterbox and smile and wave at us through the window. While I am of course keen to ensure the good health of all residents; as key workers, I am especially keen to ensure that the engineering team maintain their current level of peak physical health. I for one am grateful to PJ for his inspirational lifestyle choices and I have begun adapting my own lifestyle accordingly. Sorry Joanne, but you and I as admin are second class on this one.

• I recognise that there are some who utilise pay meters currently and I will be exploring options next week to see if we can utilise the key teams who continue to provide us with important services day in and day out while this pandemic has progressed. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and those of the staff of SEL, to the grocery, hardware, banking providers and others who continue to selflessly serve our community during this difficult time. I will update you as these discussions progress.

• I recognise that at this time of genuine personal crisis, paying your electricity bill may be a very low priority. I would urge those of you with financial security to please support your fellow islanders by settling your bills as soon as possible. Maintaining SEL cash flow to ensure the stability of supply will be a key focus for us moving forwards. Like many of you, the season is an opportunity to increase cash reserves that see us through the winter months and fund infrastructure investment. In an effort to support the business I have, with immediate effect, reduced my own salary by 50% for the duration of this crisis.

• The economic model of Sark is distinctly different to our Island neighbours and the ability of Chief Pleas to support the local economy through this crisis is genuinely limited. I am aiming to talk with our procurer this coming week to explore how we can support those who are unable to settle their practical household expenses at this time of inevitable increased need and will be reaching out to the Bailiwick business community and others to explore how we can unite in the face of the effects of this pandemic.

On an extremely practical note, I do not think it would be unreasonable for me to characterise the historic investment of the previous owners in anything beyond basic engine maintenance as ‘sporadic’.

Of the four diesel engines that we maintain at SEL, one is in bits, two have been generously described by our foreman as ‘middling’ and one as being in ‘good’ condition.

My original intent had been to arrange an immediate and significant overhaul of our equipment. This would ordinarily involve an outside engineer for a job of this complexity.

However, given the current travel bans this is not possible. Please be assured that I am reaching out to our friends at Guernsey Electric, the States of Guernsey and the wider Bailiwick business community in an effort to identify what, if any, local expertise is available to support our somewhat urgent and significant engineering needs.

The media's help in getting this message out would be helpful. I do not anticipate any short to medium term concerns in respect of our ability to maintain supply.

However, in the absence of a definitive timeline for this situation to ease, I am keen to ensure that I mitigate potential future problems before they have an opportunity to occur.