Chris Hipkins

Associate Energy Spokesperson

10 December 2009 Media Statement

Lower power bills not a priority for National

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee’s plan to introduce more competition in the electricity sector does nothing to reduce power bills for New Zealanders struggling to make ends meet, Labour’s Associate Energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins said today.

“National’s pre-election rhetoric about electricity prices being too high has been revealed as hollow and insincere following yesterday’s electricity market review announcements,” Chris Hipkins said.

“The overview of the Electricity Industry Bill introduced by the government today does not even mention power prices.

“Despite promising to take action to reduce power bills, the government’s changes to the electricity system offer no help for hardworking kiwis finding it difficult to pay their energy bills.

“Gerry Brownlee’s promise that more competition will restrain future power increases has no more credibility than when Max Bradford made the same promise 12 years ago, only to be proved spectacularly wrong.

“During their financial review hearing, the Ministry of Economic Development also confirmed that they are not doing any work on electricity pricing for consumers.

“New Zealanders want lower power bills, and were led to believe National would deliver affordability.

“Kiwis all around the country are telling Labour that paying their power bills is a major issue in these tough economic times. This is particularly the case for those on fixed incomes.

“National promised it would do everything it could to take the sharp edges of the recession and help struggling kiwi families, but the government’s electricity market review clearly misses the point,” Chris Hipkins said.

ENDS

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