NEW ZEALAND

Unison comes under CommComm scrutiny

As well as raising charges, Hawke's Bay electricity network company Unison is risking raising the ire of the Commerce Commission which today said it was investigating the firm for possible price threshold breaches.

Unison comes under CommComm scrutiny

Earlier this week Unison announced further price increases, of between 9-23%, which will affect electricity consumers in the Hawke's Bay, Taupo and Rotorua regions.

In what may prove to be the first big test of the commission's new power price rules, commission chairperson Paula Rebstock today said that Unison's self-assessment last year indicated it had breached the price threshold. Now it had announced further price increases.

Rebstock said the commission took breaches of the thresholds seriously, and was prepared to investigate when necessary. "The thresholds assessment is a trigger for the commission to use when determining whether a formal investigation is required."

The commission had already asked Unison to provide more detailed information relating to its self-assessment and on any future prices increases it might be proposing. The deadline was January 30.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the energy sector, brought to you by the Energy News Bulletin Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the energy sector, brought to you by the Energy News Bulletin Intelligence team.

editions

ENB Cost Report 2023

ENB’s latest Cost Report findings provide optimism as investments in oil and gas, as well as new energy rise.

editions

ENB Future of Energy Report 2023

ENB’s inaugural Future of Energy Report details the industry outlook on the medium-to-long-term future for the sector in the Asia Pacific region.

editions

ENB Cost Report 2021

This industry-wide report aims to understand current cost levels across the energy industry

editions

ENB Social Licence Report 2021

In its second year, this research now includes trends and new findings surrounding impacts and responses as the energy industry seeks to secure and maintain a social licence to operate.