Grey Power Manawatu Says;
Get The Regulatory Powers in Place Before Next Winter Hits.
Commenting on “The Power Package” Grey Power Manawatu.
Supports the Thrust of the Governments Power Package:
Believes The Sooner the Minister of Energy Gets the Regulatory Power over Energy Companies The Better it will be for the Consumer.

Grey Power Urges the Government to Have “Regulatory Powers” in Place before another winter hits us.

Our region suffers because line charges drain the discretionary spending power of low-income residents before they switch the power on.

The residents suffer because they can only bring their power bills down by fore going essential use of power.

This causes our Health System to come under strain when lack of heating causes illness in young and old alike.

We agree with the Ministers words when in opposition “Line companies are natural monopolies…. Monopoly Power must be regulated. The only question is how.”

Self-regulation by the energy companies is viewed with some scepticism.
Trans Alta did not hesitate to hike its line charges hoping to beat any regulation, and to benefit from the winter power use.

Grey Power is pleased that MMP is working well on this issue.

We applaud Statements from;
The Green Party Leader, Jeanette Fitzsimons, when she says in her Press release;
“We wanted zero (line charges) with all the costs levied per unit consumed”….
Jim Anderton Leader of the Alliance wants protection of ”..Public sector assets (especially transpower.)”

New Zealand Firsts Peter Brown wants line companies regulated.

Grey Power Manawatu supports all those aims and the thrust of the Governments Legislation. We urge the Energy Select Committee to get the legislation right before it gets to the house.

To this end we advocate lengthening the daily sittings of the Energy Select Committee.

We urge all political Parties to avoid repetitive debate when the legislation gets to the House.

In our view the sooner Energy Minister Pete Hodgson has the regulatory clout the better it will for the small consumer.

Don Robertson
Spokes Person
Grey Power Manawatu Phone 06 3586928
President Alex Stewart Phone 06 3571930

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