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Government Power Prices Rip-Off Aucklanders
Government Power Prices Rip-Off Aucklanders
New Zealand First is calling on new Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins to act over Aucklanders facing average power price increases of $176 p.a.
“With average annual connection costs in the Vector area set to increase by $176, the new Minister needs to exercise her Section 18 powers and review the Electricity Authority’s Transmission Pricing Methodology,” says New Zealand First Leader and Northland MP, Rt Hon Winston Peters.
“An average connection cost increase of $176 per annum hides the reality that larger power users, like the ones who employ people and create jobs, face massive power price increases.
“These hikes are about making consumers pay for what Transpower has already built, then making them underwrite generator dividends and subsidising Australia’s Rio Tinto.
“Ms Collins predecessor, Simon Bridges, told me in a Yes Minister-type answer on 21 November that for every $1 Aucklanders pay in “area of benefit charges,” they will get $4.7 in unspecified “additional benefits”.
“The Electricity Authority is a Wellington-based bureaucracy with 43 staff on over $100,000, a CEO earning over $7,000 per-week and a Chairman on $252,000. As such the new energy Minister’s first job should be to reign this bloated authority in and force them to reconnect with the needs of ordinary businesses and consumers,” says Mr Peters.
ENDS
Contact: Judith Hughey 021979502
| Local lines company | Who is affected | What the cost is today | What the Electricity Authority and Government want | Percent increase | Average* increase per ICP | |
| Vector | Auckland and Northshore | $ 178,800,000 | $ 238,100,000 | 33% | $ 176.68 | |
| Northpower | Whangarei and Kaipara districts | $ 12,800,000 | $ 19,400,000 | 52% | $ 116.30 | |
| Top Energy | Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Kaikohe | $ 3,800,000 | $ 6,000,000 | 58% | $ 70.04 | |
| Horizon | Whakatane and Eastern Bay of Plenty | $ 3,200,000 | $ 7,000,000 | 119% | $ 155.04 | |
| Ashburton | Ashburton | $ 3,600,000 | $ 7,900,000 | 119% | $ 226.28 | |
| Westpower | Greymouth | $ 1,600,000 | $ 3,700,000 | 131% | $ 157.40 | |
| * This is an average and the larger the power use the higher the charge will be. |
ends
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