Friday, 2 April 2004, 8:34 am Press Release: ACT New Zealand
Energy Minister's Blooper
The energy sector and
related industries must be mortified by Energy Minister
Pete Hodgson's announcement that the new Electricity
Commission will engage in building generation capacity if
others don't, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Energy
Spokesman Ken Shirley said today.
"The biggest
problems in the energy sector are access to fuels and
inappropriate governance. There has been no significant
investment in generation for over 10 years; equally, the
transmission network is in desperate need of major
investment," Mr Shirley said.
"Minister Pete Hodgson
simply can't help himself from intervening in the market
and sending the wrong signal.
"His recent decision to
spend $150 million of taxpayers' money on the Whirinaki
standby generator was appalling, but his signal that the
Government - through the Electricity Commission - would
build generation capacity is utterly bizarre.
"The
challenge is for Minister Hodgson now is to either explain
his reasoning, or withdraw his statement and apologise to
the energy sector and the country," Mr Shirley said.
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