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Why power prices are rising and what to do about it
Author: Molly Melhuish
Category: Electricity Pricing
Created: 03:47 PM, Friday 18 March, 2011
Comments: 0
Market pricing of electricity began in 1991, and domestic power prices have risen faster than inflation, ever since.
Prices will rise even faster under the Electricity Industry Act 2010, which creates new excuses for price hikes. It entrenches in law t... 
PowerPrice2LowforMeridian
Author: Molly Melhuish
Category: Electricity Pricing
Created: 09:19 AM, Friday 27 August, 2010
Comments: 1
Meridian Energy, having doubled its net profit to $184 million, says power prices are still too low. (Dominion Post 25 August, page C1). They say prices will have to rise to meet long-run energy costs....
Electricity move takes money out of your pocket
Author: Molly Melhuish
Category: Electricity Pricing
Created: 03:38 PM, Thursday 06 May, 2010
Comments: 1
DEUN considers that Government’s recent policy decisions will lead to higher, not lower, prices to consumers....
Dumb meters to be steamrolled out
Author: Molly Melhuish
Category: Dumb Meters
Created: 04:04 PM, Wednesday 10 March, 2010
Comments: 1
Minister Gerry Brownlee has just announced he will not regulate the roll-out of new meters to ensure consumers, as well as retailers, receive benefits. He said "the benefits would not outweigh the costs."...
Price rises blamed on trivia: truth about policies
Author: Molly Melhuish
Category: Electricity Pricing
Created: 11:40 AM, Thursday 04 March, 2010
Comments: 0
Meridian Energy, in its prospectus on renewable energy shares warns that Government's recent decisions will make power prices rise. It quotes "a mandatory floor on spot prices during conservation campaigns." This is a complete red herring....
Home Insulation problems - householders can do something about it.
Author: Molly Melhuish
Category: Home Insulation
Created: 07:31 PM, Wednesday 17 February, 2010
Comments: 1
A spate of house fires in Australia was reported recently, caused by macerated paper insulation coming in contact with downlights or exhaust fans. These both make hot spots in the ceiling. Is this a problem in New Zealand?...
Regulation to protect consumers or investors?
This week, Molly looks at regulation in the electricity industry - does regulation protect consumers or investors?...
Modern technology allows consumers to save money on power bills, but NZ is lagging on the uptake
This week Molly looks at how smart meters and smart tariffs can cut costs to consumers, secure supply, and reduce greenhouse emissions. Why is NZ so slow on the uptake of this technology?...
The truth about real-time 'smart' meters
This week, Molly Melhuish looks at the truth behind 'Smart' Meters, or real-time meters, which are being installed by many power companies in households nationwide. Will they benefit the consumer or the power company?...
The Electricity Industry Bill - A Triumph of Pragmatism over Analysis
Molly looks at the Electricity Industry Bill recently introduced to Parliament....
Government's decisions on the Ministerial electricity review fail to address the real issue.
Author: Molly Melhuish
Category: Ministerial Review Fails
Created: 12:04 PM, Thursday 10 December, 2009
Comments: 3
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How does the Emissions Trading Scheme impact on electricity prices?
Author: Molly Melhuish
Category: Emissions Trading Scheme
Created: 12:13 PM, Wednesday 25 November, 2009
Comments: 0
Molly looks at what the ETS means for household electricity prices....