New Zealand Gazette – 2008 – No. 92

Page 2473

✨ Consumer Protection Guidelines



4 JUNE 2008 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 92 2473

Consumer protection

Domestic consumer contracts

  1. The Commission should ensure that the terms and conditions of contracts between
    domestic consumers and electricity retailers (and where applicable, contracts
    between domestic consumers and electricity distributors) reflect the reasonable
    expectations of consumers.

  2. The Commission should ensure the following matters are addressed in contracts:

  • transparency of charge components

  • frequency of billing

  • company-specific arrangements for dispute resolution

  • arrangements for informing consumers about planned outages

  • arrangements for the benefit of low-income domestic consumers as described
    below.

  1. The Commission should have regard to any provision by the Commerce
    Commission requiring distribution businesses to engage with local communities on
    the trade-offs they wish to make concerning price, quality and reliability of supply.

  2. The Commission should, in consultation with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and
    other relevant interested parties, ensure that terms and conditions remain effective
    and up-to-date with current market issues.

Low fixed charges

  1. The Low Fixed Charge regulations were introduced in 2004 with the purpose of
    assisting low-use domestic consumers and encouraging energy efficiency. Prior to
    their introduction, low-use consumers in many areas faced unreasonably high fixed
    daily charges for their electricity usage. The introduction of the regulations
    provided these low-use consumers with a tariff option that was more equitable for
    low energy usage and compatible with the Government’s energy efficiency
    objectives.

  2. The Commission is charged with monitoring compliance and enforcing the
    Electricity (Low Fixed Charge Tariff Option for Domestic Consumers) Regulations
    2004 and any subsequent amendments.

Arrangements for the benefit of low income and vulnerable domestic
consumers

  1. The Commission should monitor compliance with the Guideline on arrangements to
    assist low income and vulnerable consumers^6
    issued in July 2007, to ensure that:
  • consumers who may have difficulty paying their bills on time are advised by
    retailers of the budgeting and other advice and assistance available from
    Government agencies and community service organisations

^6 http://www.electricitycommission.govt.nz/pdfs/opdev/retail/lowincome/guidelines-low-income
2Jul07.pdf



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Online Sources for this page:

VUW Te Waharoa — PDF NZ Gazette 2008, No 92


Gazette.govt.nz — PDF NZ Gazette 2008, No 92




✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🏭 Domestic Consumer Contracts Guidelines

🏭 Trade, Customs & Industry
Consumer protection, electricity contracts, transparency, billing, dispute resolution, outages, low-income consumers

🏭 Low Fixed Charge Regulations Monitoring

🏭 Trade, Customs & Industry
Low fixed charges, electricity tariffs, consumer assistance, energy efficiency, compliance monitoring

🏭 Guidelines for Low Income and Vulnerable Consumers

🏭 Trade, Customs & Industry
Low-income consumers, vulnerable consumers, payment assistance, budgeting advice, compliance monitoring