Entrust and Hip Op-eration join forces to say ‘No’ to Auckland $78 million electricity transmission price hike

Positive response to hip hop video with 63,000 Facebook views

Entrust (formerly Auckland Energy Consumer Trust) and Waiheke Island’s Hip Op-eration crew have joined forces to say ‘No’ to a $78 million electricity transmission price hike for Aucklanders that has been proposed by the Electricity Authority.

The two organisations have collaborated on development of a hip-hop video which was released this week and explains the impact of the Electricity Authority proposal on Aucklanders.

Entrust Deputy Chairman, Michael Buczkowski said Trustees hoped the hip-hop video would help make a complex policy consultation interesting and encourage Aucklanders to share their thoughts about the increase proposed by the Electricity Authority.

“We know from the huge amount of support received from the public while we were filming the hip hop video and from feedback on our Facebook page that a lot of Aucklanders do not support the Electricity Authority proposal,” he said.

Mr Buczkowski said the Electricity Authority proposal would see Aucklanders paying an extra $78 million a year in transmission grid charges, while electricity generators such as Meridian and Contact and the owners of Tiwai Smelter would financially benefit by $94 million at the cost of Aucklanders.

“The increase would see average residential customers paying approximately $97 extra each year, while businesses would face a $148 increase each year, schools an additional $1,577 each year and large electricity users like hospitals paying up to $22,000 extra every year.

“This change would have an adverse impact on Auckland families, the elderly and small business owners who are at the heart of Auckland’s economic engine room and least able to afford large increases.

“We believe it is fairer to spread transmission costs equally across all users of the grid including electricity generators. This is fairer and in the long term interest of consumers,” he said.

ENDS

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