Energy & Water
Manx Electricity Authority
The MEA is directed by a Statutory Board of Tynwald.
The Chief Executive is responsible for the day to day functions of the Authority who is supported by 4 Directors, who are responsible for Generation, Network Services, Corporate Services and Finance.
Generation
The Authority constructed an 88MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Station at Pulrose in 2003 together with a Natural Gas Pipeline from Glen Mooar to Pulrose Power Station – this provides a diversity of fuel and a supply of natural gas to the Island.
Power Stations are situated at Pulrose, Peel, Ramsey and Sulby. Pulrose including the CCGT has a capacity of nearly 135MW.
Peel a capacity of nearly 40MW, a diesel generating station at Ramsey with a capacity of 3.6MW, and a small hydro station at Sulby with a capacity of 1.0MW.
Network Services
The MEA supplies over 43,000 customers by a distribution network of some 616km in total of 33,000 volt, 11,000 volt, 3,300 volt and 415/230 volt overhead lines and 1,165km of underground cables. There are approximately 1,000 substations.
The MEA also provides contracting services for the provision and maintenance of public lighting. Network Services are responsible for all aspects of the transmission and distribution of a safe, secure, reliable and adequate supply of electricity throughout the Island.
Subsea Cable
The MEA operates the 40MW subsea cable link in a customer services orientated manner whilst obtaining power on a least cost basis. This is in line with the electricity supply industry best practice.
Manx Gas
Gas for the Island's residents and businesses is supplied by Manx Gas. The Douglas area is fed with natural gas, the result of a recently-completed multi-million pounds investment by the company. Other towns are provided with mains LPG/air gas and both tank and cylinder gas are also supplied. For motorists, Autogas is available, reducing running costs markedly.
Not only does Manx Gas provide for the Island's gas needs, it also maintains the 250 miles of pipeline infrastructure, services appliances and central heating systems, and sells new appliances from a centrally situated showroom. Agencies cover oxygen, acetylene, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, food preservation materials and balloon gas.
Manx Gas employs around 100 people in the Isle of Man and provides regular work for well over 100 CORGI-registered gas installers. About 200 local companies supply goods and services to the company.
Sixteen shops in the Island sell approved gas appliances, there are 34 agents for cylinder gas and Manx Gas has its own showroom in Douglas. The company operates a fleet of support vehicles, from bulk gas containers to cylinder delivery wagons, mains layers and customer service vans. It maintains more than 250 miles of underground pipelines.
In coming years, the Isle of Man Government wish to convert the whole Island to piped Natural Gas.
Isle of Man Water Authority
Water is the responsibility of the Isle of Man Water Authority, which oversees the two main reservoirs at West Baldwin and Sulby. The latter was completed in 1983 at a cost of over £11 million, a far-sighted project aimed at coping with future demand well into the 21st Century.