Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities

The Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities or CICRA is the name given to the combined Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority and the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority. Guernsey and Jersey forming the majority of the Channel Islands.

History

Formed in December 2010, CICRA is responsible for administering and enforcing the Competition (Jersey) Law 2005 and The Competition (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2012. The purpose of the legislation is to prevent consumers being harmed by anti-competitive or exploitative behaviour in the market. [1]

The decision to form a joint body was taken because of the similarity of needs and the reduction in duplication through economies of scale. Resources available to CICRA are limited.[2]

Areas of responsibility

The areas of responsibility are being developed. [3]

  • Competition Law
    • Some areas of work are discretionary, others such as a duty to investigate mergers and acquisitions is statutory.
  • Telecommunications
    • Regulator
  • Postal Sectors
    • Regulator looking at quality and universal service obligations
  • Electricity – Guernsey 2012-
    • Regulator
  • Ports – Jersey 2015-
    • Economic regulatory authority, to protect and further the interests of users of port operations and where appropriate promote competition.

Board

The board comprises a Chairman, 3 executive Directors and 3 non-executive Directors.

There are less than 10 staff spread between two offices in the two islands. [1]

Areas of contention

An investigation by CICRA into possible market abuse by a States of Guernsey contract in 2016 has been blocked as the States of Guernsey have refuced to supply CICRA with the necessary funding.[4] The investigation being dropped in January 2017 due to lack of funding.[5]

The ownership of regulated companies by the governments, such as Jersey Post and Guernsey Electricity can produce conflicts.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Annual Report 2012" (PDF). CICRA.
  2. 1 2 "A review of the Jersey regulatory and competition framework" (PDF). Oxera. 16 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Strategic Aims" (PDF). CICRA.
  4. ↑ "Cicra denied States cash to probe 'market abuse'". Guernsey Press. 29 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Cicra drops inquiry into alleged States contract abuse due to funds delay". Guernsey Press. 30 January 2017.
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