Crazy Power Company Behaviour Tackled By PM
The Prime Minister in question answering mode at today's post-cabinet press conference – Scoop image
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The Prime Minister pointed out at the start of her post-cabinet press conference that there were guidelines for
companies like Mercury Energy to follow when dealing with cutting off their customers. Last week a Mangere woman Folole
Muliaga, 44, died following her power being disconnected by a contractor employed by Mercury Energy. The PM explained
that Mercury had not followed guidelines by which the State Owned Company should have sought to point the Muliaga family
in the direction of social agencies prior to disconnecting the family's power.
National Party State-Owned Enterprises spokesman Gerry Brownlee pointed out in a press release earlier today that in
National's opinion Labour shouldn’t be rushing regulation about power disconnection. Mr Brownlee was of the opinion that
Mercury Energy should be punished for not following its own guidelines. The PM was of the belief however that regulation
may be necessary to protect consumers from companies willing to skirt guidelines that were not legally binding. It was
not immediately clear if there were any punishments other than public opprobrium enshrined in law for companies skirting
their own guidelines to act in a 'socially responsible' way.
Listen to the full post-cabinet PM's press conference
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