02 April 2001

Generator Report shows need for Electricity Bill

“The Commerce Committee review of Meridian Energy, Mighty River Power and Genesis Power released today shows why the Electricity Industry Bill is needed”, Titirangi MP David Cunliffe said today.

“Concerns about inefficient hydro spills, transmission constraints and power customer services show why we need a better regulatory framework. The prospect of two SOEs suing each other in the High Court is also a lose-lose for tax-payers. This begs for a better system”, David Cunliffe said.

The Government’s Electricity Industry Bill is also currently before the Commerce Committee and is due to be reported back in May.

“The Government’s approach is for as much industry self-regulation as possible, with as strong a regulatory back-stop as necessary. This report shows that the market alone does not always deliver optimum efficiency and service results. The over haul of the regulatory framework is clearly over due,” Mr Cunliffe said.

“This in-depth report reflects the detailed analysis of the industry the Committee is undertaking. I hope the Committee will pick up these themes in its work on the Bill,” David Cunliffe said.

ENDS

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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>>