Time for Fairer Compensation for Power Outages

Time for Fairer Compensation for Power Outages and Quality Issues

Commenting on the NZ Herald stories about electricity service compensation issues for both business and residential customers

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12142661, the City Vision for Entrust Campaign Team Leader Peter Neilson called for, fairer compensation for business and residential customers adversely affected by power outages and quality issues.

The current maximum of compensation of only $50 if you lose power for more than 2.5 hours is no longer adequate particularly given the sensitivity of computers and other electronic equipment to unexpected outages, power surges and other quality issues.

The Entrust (formerly called the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust) trustees, who own 75.1% of Vector on behalf of Aucklanders, have failed to stand up for the Auckland power consumer regarding these and other issues.

When we asked the current C&R Entrust trustees their views on the adequacy of $50 compensation they said it was an issue for Vector alone. (See page 2 of the attachment)

A City Vision majority Entrust would seek a review of the existing Vector compensation arrangements with the aim of making them both fair and adequate.

We need to put the consumer and trust back into the focus of the Entrust trustees.

The Entrust trustee election is currently underway and if you want a better deal for consumers you should vote for trustee candidates willing to work for consumers whether residential or business.

If you want your vote to be counted you need to post back your voting paper by Monday the 22nd of October 2018

The current maximum compensation of $50 would not pay for a computer repairer call out to come to your home or premises to fix the problem let alone compensate for the loss of service or revenue.

The Chairman of Vector William Cairns should front up and explain why the C&R trustees who have held all the 5 trustee positions on Entrust for the past 9 years have not taken steps to review the inadequate Vector compensation arrangements.

It is time for a change at the Trust concluded economist, former cabinet minister and City Vision Team Leader Peter Neilson

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