10 February 2010

Age Concern New Zealand is deeply concerned about the adverse effect on older people of power price rises up to 8 percent announced recently by Mercury Energy, Contact, and Genesis.

Liz Baxendine, national president of Age Concern, says “older people depend on affordable electricity for their health and quality of life, and it’s hard to pay electricity price rises out of fixed incomes. Many are using much less electricity than they need, and the result often shows up in increased loads on the health system.

She welcomed a meeting recently convened by the new Electricity Authority – which has a statutory responsibility to work towards the operation of the electricity sector for the long-term benefit of New Zealand’s electricity consumers - with representatives of consumer groups, including Age Concern.

Liz Baxendine said she looked forward to initiatives from the Authority that would ensure that the principles of social responsibility and concern for community welfare, with price rises for domestic consumers kept to a minimum, are ensured as the Authority works to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the operation of the electricity sector.

ENDS

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