Max Bradford National List MP

Friday 26 May 2000

Orion price cut well overdue

"Electricity lines company Orion is doing the right thing cutting prices - but the move is well overdue and hypocritical," National List MP Max Bradford said today.

"The 3.5 per cent price cut is welcome. But it shows that National was correct last year to criticise Orion for overcharging.

"For the company to now reduce line charges barely a month before the self imposed price freeze ends and the Government electricity inquiry is due to report on the activity of monopoly line companies is an act of crass hypocrisy.

"What Orion's action shows is that some monopoly line companies were overcharging last year and I expect they will now be on their best behaviour to avoid any price control regulations by a Labour Alliance Government.

"It's clear that consumers have been the losers as I always said they would be without price control regulation on these monopolies. Consumers are expecting the Government to act decisively to protect them from predatory pricing behaviour such as we saw last year and which has led to significant profitability well in excess of what is reasonable."

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