12 Aug 2020

Commerce Commission cancels power price increase meetings in Queenstown Lakes

4:54 pm on 12 August 2020

The Commerce Commission has cancelled meetings to discuss plans to increase power prices in the Queenstown Lakes.

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Photo: 123RF

Aurora Energy is proposing price increases to residential power bills of approximately $20 to $30 a month over three years to improve its infrastructure.

Historically, the Commerce Commission said Aurora Energy had under-invested in its network causing an increasing number of safety incidents and unplanned power cuts.

The consultation sessions were scheduled for today in Wanaka and tomorrow in Queenstown.

But the commission said they have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 developments last night.

They would not have been able to predict attendee numbers and the requirements to organise social distancing and face masks at short notice, a spokesperson said.

The commission did not rule out holding online sessions as an alternative.

Sessions have been held in Dunedin and Central Otago.

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