Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says a report showing a two percent reduction in electricity line charges during 2000 is good news, although there are still many areas in which electricity consumers deserve a better deal.

Mr Hodgson was referring to the annual Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Electricity Distribution Company Analysis, released today, which examines electricity line company performance.

The report says line company charges fell two percent in nominal terms and five percent in real terms during 2000, with further reductions expected as line companies continue to become more efficient. Most have agreed to freeze their prices until August 2001.

"The Government's approach of industry self-regulation backed up by a credible threat of price control is nudging the industry in the right direction," Mr Hodgson said.

"It is also encouraging that today's report notes a significant improvement in the reliability of electricity lines. It is very important that security of supply is not compromised in the drive to reduce costs."

Mr Hodgson said there was clearly still plenty of room for customer service standards in the electricity industry to improve, despite advances in recent months.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>