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August 27, 2024
Share the pain Jones tells electricity producers
Atereano Mateariki
Posted On August 27, 2024
Download AudioRegional Development Shane Jones says government can’t write cheques to cover the energy bills of struggling companies, but it also can’t let electricity companies continue to extract excessive profits at the expense of therir customers.
His officials are looking at options aftern hearing from firms in the Ruapehu region who are about to shut down because of energy prices.
A short term solution could be for big energy users to get together and strike collective deals like the one done with Rio Tinto for the Bluff aluminium smelter, but structural change is needed.
“It becomes extremely difficult if the crown has to start writing out cheques to subsidise firms that are struggling with energy prices because that list will soon become endlessand it’s a real disappointment to me that the big energy firms are celebrating their profits yet unwilling to step up to the plate and share the pain with regional New Zealand and these employers,” Mr Jones says.
He feels aroha for Ngati Rangi and other residents of the Ruapehu region concerned about losing their jobs.
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