The average power bill for a family of four will rise by 2.4 per cent this year, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges said yesterday as he faced questions from political opponents intent on making electricity increases an election-year issue.
Is your power bill being raised? Email us here.
Electricity retailers are raising tariffs in a move they say is a response to increased lines company and national grid charges. Labour and the Greens have seized on reports some consumers are facing increases of about 7 per cent or, in some cases, more than 20 per cent.
Facing questions from Labour energy spokesman David Shearer in Parliament yesterday, Mr Bridges said consumers facing big increases were "absolute outliers" and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's "best estimate" was of an average increase for a household of four persons of about 2.4 per cent.