Electricity Levy Bad News For Consumers

The $18.20 annual levy that all electricity consumers will be paying to fund the Labour Government’s Electricity Commission is just the down payment, ACT New Zealand Energy Spokesman Ken Shirley warned today.

“The real cost to consumers will be the inefficiencies and distortions introduced by the clammy hand of government trying to regulate and double guess the marketplace,” Mr Shirley said.

“Already we have the farcical situation of Energy Minister Pete Hodgson panicking and committing $150 million to the Whirinaki standby station in the hope that it is never used. 

“Meanwhile, Conservation Minister Chris Carter – Mr Hodgson’s cabinet colleague – prevents the upgrading of the Dobson hydro scheme.

“We are seeing the progressive renationalisation of the energy sector and a return to the days when politicians made all the decisions.

“What is needed in the electricity sector if supply is to meet demand at optimum prices is more market and less government,” Mr Shirley said.

ENDS