11 Feb 2014

Parties dispute power plan report

9:03 am on 11 February 2014

The Labour and Green parties are disputing a report that finds fault with their proposal for a single state agency to control the sale of electricity aimed at reducing prices.

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Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

The report by the Sapere Research Group, commissioned by Business New Zealand, praises the way the current electricity market works, saying it's now more competitive than at any time in the past.

Labour Party energy spokesperson David Shearer said people may be changing electricity retailers more frequently, but prices are still going up by about 5 percent a year when inflation is about 1 percent, and consumers are simply paying too much.

Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes agrees, saying the Labour-Greens NZ Power plan would reduce consumer prices.