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The Government has announced a comprehensive package of measures to deliver a fair deal for electricity consumers and Wairarapa MP, Georgina Beyer says the Power Package will bring significant benefits for households in Wairarapa.
The Power Package follows the Caygill Inquiry into the Electricity Industry.
"This package was designed to give consumers the deal they deserve", Ms Beyer said.
She outlined a range of initiatives in the package which are designed to protect the interest of consumers.
They include:
- requiring all retailers who supply domestic customers to offer at least one tariff package with a fixed charge of no more than 10 per cent of the bill of the average domestic consumer;
- requiring the industry to establish an electricity ombudsman or similar independent system for resolving consumer complaints;
- amending the Consumer Guarantees Act so that it covers electricity;
- requiring retailers who serve more than 25 per cent of domestic customers in a line company area to offer pre-payment meters at a reasonable cost; and
- keeping changes in rural line charges in line with urban line charges.
The Commerce Commission will regulate prices in the monopoly part of the industry. Local line companies and Transpower will be placed under price control if they breach thresholds or criteria set by the Commerce Commission.
The Power Package also contains a wide range of initiatives to benefit the environment and energy efficiency.
Full information on the Power Package is available on www.med.govt.nz.
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