Power price hike

Energy customers in Tairawhiti face an electricity price hike of over 6 percent on October 1, rising to more than 8 percent with the GST increase…..

“A lot of old people in this district are already using desperate measures to keep warm,” said Fiona Ratapu-Rodden of Age Concern.

Some were staying in bed or huddling under blankets on cold days, and a few were even resorting to the depression tactic of living without electricity apart from lighting.

The Government’s $12 a week increase in superannuation this year was going nowhere towards covering increases in all sorts of other basics such as food. People would be really stressed by this latest price hike.

…The increase would place increasing pressure on support agencies such as Age Concern, who had few resources to overcome basic issues such as lack of heating.
“As it is we are already seeing a cutback on foods, or buying cheaper less-nutritious food to cover increased grocery prices. There is nothing left to cover increased power costs.”…a Gisborne household using around 450kW, or $150-worth of electricity a month, could save up to $24 a month by switching to alternative suppliers such as Genesis Energy.

The price gap will grow even wider after the October 1 price increase.

> SOURCE Gisborne Herald, 31 August 2010 http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=19105