The energy sector and related industries must be mortified by Energy Minister Pete Hodgson’s announcement that the new Electricity Commission will engage in building generation capacity if others don’t, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Energy Spokesman Ken Shirley said today.

“The biggest problems in the energy sector are access to fuels and inappropriate governance.  There has been no significant investment in generation for over 10 years; equally, the transmission network is in desperate need of major investment,” Mr Shirley said.

“Minister Pete Hodgson simply can’t help himself from intervening in the market and sending the wrong signal.

“His recent decision to spend $150 million of taxpayers’ money on the Whirinaki standby generator was appalling, but his signal that the Government – through the Electricity Commission – would build generation capacity is utterly bizarre.

“The challenge is for Minister Hodgson now is to either explain his reasoning, or withdraw his statement and apologise to the energy sector and the country,” Mr Shirley said.

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