16 March 2005

Power Prices Questioned By Brown

New Zealand First energy spokesperson Peter Brown says the Government should be delivering on its promise to solve problems in the electricity industry and put a stop to skyrocketing power prices.

“The electricity industry’s pricing policies have seen line charges go up 40% since Labour was elected in 1999 and the Government has done nothing to curb these increases, despite substantial profits.

“Worse still, the Minster is unable to give any assurance to the New Zealand public that the upwards electricity pricing trend will stop,” said Mr Brown.

“Labour promised to solve problems in the electricity industry in 1999, but it has done very little to ease the predatory electricity pricing policies followed by the power companies.”

Mr Brown said that power companies such as Genesis are forecasting more price rises and this should not be tolerated by the Government.

“The Government should be lowering the amount that state owned electricity generating companies can charge power companies so reduced prices can be passed on to the consumer.

“Consumers have had enough of these rapacious power prices, and it is high time the Government did something about it,” concluded Mr Brown.

ENDS

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