By ANGELA GREGORY
WHANGAREI - A ministerial panel of inquiry into the electricity industry has heard more complaints from Whangarei consumers than any other part of the country.
Panel chairman David Caygill yesterday told a gathering of about 30 people in Whangarei that their criticisms had been raised elsewhere.
"But it is clear [from correspondence] there is a greater volume of concern here than anywhere else. You're not alone, but you are a special case."
A woman in the audience responded: "That is probably because we used to have one of the best power companies ... we not only got discounts but even had a month of free power."
The panel heard the theme repeated from individuals and groups who had been satisfied with the performance of former supplier Northpower before the electricity reforms took effect last April.
Meridian Energy had inherited the retail arm of Northpower from ECNZ, which bought it for $21.5 million, after a law change forced power companies to give up either their lines or retail businesses.
The move was meant to bring in competition among energy retailers to keep prices down.
But the message from Whangarei consumers was that the opposite had occurred.
A spokesman for Energy Watch, Don Ross, said the community group had been formed because of the "unacceptable" outcomes of electricity reforms in the Whangarei district.
He said the 42,000 electricity consumers, once well-served by Northpower, had faced steep rises in charges since the November election.
For some the increase was as high as 48 per cent.
Major power users had benefited in comparison with residential users, said Mr Ross.
Changing to another retailer was not as simple as it looked.
Many consumers had concerns about companies with part overseas ownership, or objected to their exploitation of natural resources such as gas and coal.
Mr Ross said there was deep public concern and anger about the nature of the reforms, their effect on the regional economy and their social implications.
"The energy reforms have failed to provide low-cost electricity or reliability, or an enhanced quality of life in this district for the majority of consumers."
The reforms had caused hardship and uncertainty and made suppliers less accountable. Consumers felt disempowered.
Mr Ross said Northland was a struggling regional economy that required the retention of local ownership and control over its electri-city retailer.
Community worker Carol Peters said many low-income people had had their power cut off after finding it hard to budget for bills that varied in size because of infrequent meter readings.
Whangarei wants more power over electricity supplier
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