Street Maryan: Electricity (Disconnection and Low Fixed Charges) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Street Maryan: Electricity (Disconnection and Low Fixed Charges) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:640;Page:10801] 
MARYAN STREET (Labour) 
: 
 In May of this year New Zealand witnessed a tragic event when the Muliaga family had the power disconnected at their home. That brought out some glaring gaps in the operation of our State-owned enterprises. State-owned enterprises originally came out of public services which were previously wholly operated by the Government through the Public Service. In corporatising them in the 1980s and later commercial imperatives which had previously been absent were introduced so that the Crown’s investment in these services could be rewarded. In some measure this bill represents a righting of the balance if you like a restoration of some social imperatives to services that are no longer luxuries but essentials. 
In the first instance the Minister of Energy talked about the new guidelines that will apply to electricity retailers. These retailers must advise consumers who may have difficulty paying their bills of the assistance that is available from Government agencies and community service providers. They must also take steps to identify vulnerable consumers who are having difficulty paying their bills and consult with the Ministry of Social Development and Employment before disconnecting vulnerable consumers. At no time during this process can a retailer disconnect vulnerable consumers. Retailers must also identify those consumers reliant on electricity for medical equipment to maintain life and not disconnect those consumers. 
We are confident that electricity retailers will follow the guidelines to prevent a repeat of the May tragedy but the regulating power contained in this legislation is an important last resort to ensure that the Government’s objectives are met. These objectives are both commercial and social. 
I commend the electricity industry for the steps it has already taken as witnessed by the television advertising campaign with the inspired choice of Jonah Lomu fronting the campaign. The use of an icon such as Jonah Lomu will bring the message home very quickly and very clearly. I commend the industry for that. Clearly that is an example of the industry responding proactively. However as I say the regulating power is an important last resort to ensure the Government’s objectives are met. 
In respect of the second purpose of this bill it is clear that as many as 70000 households from Christchurch south could face smaller bills under the proposed changes to electricity tariff charges. The Minister was careful not to overstate that benefit but in fact any assistance to households particularly low-income households in respect of the provision of adequate heating during winter is to be welcomed and not sneered at. It would appear that although 50000 or so lower South Island households may have already benefited from the 8000 kilowatt limit another 20000 should be eligible under the higher threshold and that is helpful. 
I trust that this bill—if it proceeds as the Minister intends to the Commerce Committee—will get an adequate and appropriate hearing. I have the privilege of sitting on that select committee and I look forward to the discussion around the two essential items that this bill brings to the supply of electricity in this country. It should be registered that the social imperatives for the provision of electricity supply should not be overtaken again in the future. I look forward to the consideration of this bill at the committee.