The Northland Mayoral Forum has added its voice to the chorus of opposition to the Electricity Authority's transmission pricing methodology (TPM), which it says should be scrapped immediately.
Last week it called on the government to require the Authority to consider the impact of its decisions on communities such as Northland, which were experiencing substantial "energy poverty."
The TPM would hit Northlanders with an unfair and substantial financial burden through increased electricity prices, something that the people of Te Tai Tokerau simply could afford now or in the future according to mayors John Carter (Far North), Sheryl Mai (Whangārei) Dr Jason Smith (Kaipara) and Northland Regional Council chair Penny Smart.
"The proposal is grossly unfair, and the Government should stop it in its tracks," Forum chairman Dr Smith said.
"Like Top Energy, Northpower, Federated Farmers Northland, Northland Inc, NorthChamber, the Northland Regional Council and numerous Northland community groups, we have lobbied against the TPM for many years now, and we will continue to do so. We are taking the fight against this injustice to the next level," says Northland Mayoral Forum Chair Dr Jason Smith.