-
Related
Consumers are being warned to brace for bigger power bills as a cold snap plus rising wholesale electricity rates puts pressure on power companies.
One of New Zealand's major companies, TrustPower, is reviewing its prices in Otago and consumers in many other areas are also likely to be hit with price rises.
The cold weather means more electricity is being used and latest figures show demand was almost five percent higher last month than in June last year.
Analysts say that equates to the market having to supply approximately 30,000 extra houses compared to last year.
Power companies are having to pay more for electricity, with wholesale rates up about 25 percent on last month partly because of a decline in hydro lake levels.
They say that while they can generally absorb the increase they would be concerned about any further rises.
Budget advisers are concerned that people on low incomes are not heating their houses because they are worried about big power bills.
Latest Breakfast Video
-
te-karere-121111-fri - te-karere-121111-fri (0:22:30)
-
Marae Investigates - Series 2012, Episode 13
-
Marae Investigates - Series 2011, Episode 15 (0:29:10)
