People the victims—C.T.U.

Press, 15 September 1989, Page 4

People the victims —C.T.U.

PA Wellington Reforms announced on Wednesday in the electricity industry show almost no concern for consumers, the Council of Trade Unions President, Mr Ken Douglas, said yesterday. The electricity taskforce report — “a relic of Rogernomics” — would result in electricity prices

skyrocketing with axeing of socalled cross-subsidisation to domestic users, Mr Douglas said. Retail charges in the Nelson region would rise about 50 per cent if transmission was charged at full cost. Rural communities might find themselves without electricity if supply authorities found it uneconomic to supply them, he said.

“Electricity supply should not be seen as simply another tradeable commodity but as a basic right of all citizens,” he said. “In this day and age it is as fundamental as access to clean water.” More than anything else the taskforce report illustrated the gulf that existed between notions of economic efficiency and the interests of consumers, he said.