Retail Price Surge & Regulatory Reform

Consumer NZ's four-point plan gains urgency; 15% average residential bill increase. Energy Minister Simeon Brown writes to EDBs to curb lines charges, appoints John Harbord to chair EA. EA launches distribution connection pricing reform. Consumer NZ reports prices up 177% since 1999, 30,000 disconnections. New developments: Business groups call for operational split of gentailers (85% generation/95% firming control) with Crown-backed contracting scheme. Wholesale prices dropped to $40-$66/MWh. A two-step plan proposes a 20 TWh target as a major market intervention.