The need for a political compromise has robbed New Zealand consumers of the chance to pay less for their electricity, Opposition Energy spokesperson Pansy Wong said today.

"As the inquiry chairman David Caygill has conceded, electricity prices would not necessarily fall even if the Government adopts all the recommednations in the report.

"The refusal to do anything about prices is a worry because it sends the message to the monopolistic sectors of the electricity industry that the current price level is acceptable when it should be lower.

"The panel's recommendation that the Commerce Act should be amended to provide the Commerce Commission with the ability to impose price control on individual distribution companies is the same in substance as legislation introduced by National in 1999 designed to subject electricity prices to regulation - legislation that the Labour party voted against."

ENDS

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