NZ Power prices debate ‘heats up’

Press release
For immediate release 25/11/2004

NZ Power prices debate ‘heats up’

With Contact Energy posting a $144 million profit on Tuesday all focus is on the ticking over of our power meters. How overcharged are we being? Why is a state owned enterprise making profit at our expense?

Most of us will grumble about being charged excessively, but what about the ones who absolutely aren’t coping? Do their children have cold showers and cold dinners for fear of a horrendous unethical power bill? The ‘should the DPB be raised’ debate came to no conclusion, because of fears people will become too dependant on the benefit even though many children are suffering due to such low income. If the government are going to allow power prices to get and stay so high, while still not regulating the industry then where does help stem from!

Allison Toner of Niche Forecasting says “If our power companies would all but look outside the box then we wouldn’t have to deal with these issues. Clearly power is a necessity so should be charged as one – fairly.” She continues “As for their business survival a bit of innovation definitely wouldn’t go astray – if they would all but stretch their markets they could have additional income streams from related but non life essential products and services.”

To run a country fair and worthwhile to live in surely the power companies could spice things up a bit and use the good ol’ kiwi ingenuity we continually boast about having.

If power companies in New Zealand would be a bit wilder and use some innovation we wouldn’t be paying more than the minimum to run our homes.

ENDS

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