We’re trying to raise at least $70,000 by 4 October. Why? We’re not government funded. Not backed by big business. We’re 100% independent – and we only exist because no-bullsh*t people like you support us. We’re fighting to bring down high power prices, protect people from unsafe products and ban sneaky business tactics. Please keep our fight alive by donating today.
This week, we delivered our biggest-ever petition to Parliament, signed by 82,085 people who back our four-point plan to bring down power bills.
Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy handed the petition over to Associate Minister for Energy Shane Jones. Minister for Energy Simeon Brown, Labour energy spokesperson Dr Megan Woods and Green Party co-leader Chloë Swarbrick also spoke at the handover event.
The petition calls for action on the four key drivers we believe are keeping power bills high:
the dominance of the big four power companies
a mechanism in the wholesale market where expensive fossil-fuel generation can set the price for cheaper renewable power
inadequate investment in homegrown generation
the absence of a durable cross-party energy strategy.
Which power company has the happiest customers?
See the full ratings of all power companies in our nationally representative survey.
On receiving the petition, Jones acknowledged radical sector change was needed. “There won’t be any change to the electricity sector if you only tinker. There won’t be any change to the electricity sector if you bow down and cower in front of the demigods who actually dominate the generation sector.”
Woods congratulated Consumer and the 82,085 people who signed the petition. She said that, collectively, “We are sending a very clear and determined message that New Zealanders are paying too much for their power bills.”
Swarbrick declared, “We agree with all of the asks in this petition from Consumer NZ.” She also noted the work Consumer has done to make it “crystal clear” that New Zealanders are being ripped off by concentrated, commercial power, saying, “Political decisions can change it.”
Finally, Brown thanked Consumer and all the people who signed the petition, acknowledging the petition’s “clear calls”. The minister’s view is that the government’s approach – which has included fast-tracking approval of new electricity-generation projects and reversing Labour’s ban on offshore oil and gas exploration – is working, but there’s more work to do, and the government is committed to doing it.
Consumer has urged politicians to commit to fixing the sector to bring prices down.
“People are struggling to pay for an essential service while the dominant power companies report record earnings,” Duffy says.
Consumer won’t stop fighting for cheaper power and a fairer system – so people can afford the power they need to be warm and well.
Thank you to the thousands of people who signed and share the petition. Your voice has made this issue impossible to ignore.
