Williams Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWilliams Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 April 2013. Volume:689;Page:9439. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]9.ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First) to theMinister of Consumer Affairs: Has he seen any reports that New Zealand power prices have increased at twice the rate of most other countries?Hon CRAIG FOSS (Minister of Consumer Affairs): I have seen a number of reports on power prices including reports that New Zealand consumers are increasingly taking advantage of greater choice and competition and are switching companies for a better deal and that under a National Government consumers are far better off than the 72 percent or 8 percent per annum increase in power prices they endured under the previous Labour Government which may well have been twice the rate of other countries.Andrew Williams: What steps is the Government taking to address the widespread concern with rapidly escalating power prices as is reported in theNew Zealand Listenerthis week?Hon CRAIG FOSS: As far as it is under my portfolio of consumer affairs most of that is actually a question to the Minister of Energy and Resources. Under the Powerswitch programme 70000 New Zealanders have had the opportunity to switch power companies power providers over the last 2 years. That has been a very very successful programme as well as increasing after-tax incomes for all New Zealanders and those on fixed incomes to help them pay for their power and their cost of living.Andrew Williams: Given that power companies are making record profits despite falling demand for electricity why are power bills so high?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I thank the member for his support of the mixed-ownership model.Andrew Williams: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did not ask anything about the mixed-ownership model. That did not answer my question.Mr SPEAKER: I invite the member to put the question again please.Andrew Williams: Given that power companies are making record profits despite falling demand why are power bills so high?Hon CRAIG FOSS: A large proportion of the New Zealand electricity industry is currently owned by the Crown the State and under that model it has seen very increased prices particularly in the 9 years of the Labour Government and its 72 percent increase. That is one of the reasons.Andrew Williams: Will the Government assure the public that future electricity prices will not increase at a faster rate than the CPI; if not why not?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I note that the CPI today came out at 0.9 percent per annum and after-tax incomes are actually increasing under this National Government to help people afford their cost of living.Andrew Williams: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a simple yes or no answer that we required. He did not answer the question.Mr SPEAKER: The member cannot demand a simple yes or no answer but I accept the point that the question was not addressed adequately. Would the member please ask the question again.Andrew Williams: Will the Government assure the public that future electricity prices will not increase at a faster rate than the CPI; if not why not?Hon CRAIG FOSS: That question should be addressed to the Minister of Energy and Resources but I can assure him on recent track record that under the National Government power prices have increased by about half to a third of the rate under the previous Labour Government.