Consumer NZ is urging 100,000 New Zealanders to sign its petition calling for government intervention over rising electricity prices.
Consumer chief executive Jon Duffy said electricity prices have surged 20% in just two years.
‘Many households across New Zealand are feeling the strain,” he said.
Research by Consumer NZ found that one in four households struggled to pay their power bills over the past year, while more than half of New Zealanders say they are worried about the cost of their household energy.
“In a country powered mostly by cheap renewable electricity, more than a million households should not be worrying about the cost of energy. But that’s the reality,” Duffy stated.
“While the big power companies rake in hundreds of millions in profits, more and more people can’t afford to heat their homes properly. Last year alone, more than 30,000 households were disconnected because they couldn’t pay their power bills.”
Meanwhile, earlier this year, the country’s major electricity companies reported combined half-year profits exceeding half a billion dollars.
Consumer NZ has also outlined a four-point plan aimed at reducing household electricity costs.
End the dominance of the big four power companies.
It is calling for a clear separation between electricity generation and retail operations so smaller power companies can compete more easily, an approach it says would increase competition, improve consumer choice, and help drive down prices.
Make power prices reflect real costs.
It also wants reforms to the electricity market so consumers are no longer charged high fossil-fuel-based prices for what it argues is cheaper renewable energy.
Invest in more homegrown energy.
It argues this would help ensure a reliable power supply even during periods of low rainfall while reducing reliance on costly coal and gas generation.
Set a long-term plan together.
It is also calling for a cross-party energy strategy designed to prioritise affordable electricity over political interests and industry influence.
“Fixing the electricity sector will take action on multiple fronts. Right now, the market is delivering for power companies, not people – and that must change,” Duffy said.
“New Zealanders support change. More than half the nation say energy issues will affect how they vote. Our petition is a way people can directly send a message that’s impossible for politicians to ignore – it’s time to act, and power bills must come down.”