Big users upset by monopoly over lines

By JOSIE CLARKE

Domestic customers have suffered in the competitive scramble between electricity companies, but the reforms have delivered cheaper power to businesses.

The country's largest power users say they are now seeing benefits from the competition caused by former Energy Minister Max Bradford splitting the state-owned ECNZ into three competing companies.

But the Major Electricity Users Group executive director Ralph Matthes says a concern is what will happen to monopoly line company charges, which the Commerce Commission is investigating.

"There is a degree of frustration from business customers who have waited a long time for Parliament to deal to the monopolies."

Mr Bradford has admitted that things did not got to plan for domestic consumers and billing and computer systems have been, for the most part, a shambles.

During this week's Herald series, leading figures in the electricity sector said that switching problems were being sorted out. The investigation found that the change to a free-market had been done too quickly.

Present Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says he cannot promise cheaper electricity, but he is sure consumers will soon be enjoying better treatment.

He has directed the industry to sort itself out, agree on proper rules, install an ombudsman, and to offer a cheap fixed-rate tariff for consumers who use little electricity.

Past time to get properly plugged in

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Overload - our troubled power companies

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