New Zealand Gazette – 2009 – No. 75

Page 1729

✨ Consumer Protection Guidelines



27 MAY 2009 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 75 1729

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(1) issued in July 2007, to ensure that:

(1) http://www.electricitycommission.govt.nz/pdfs/opdev/retail/lowincome/guidelines-low-income-2Jul07.pdf



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Online Sources for this page:

Gazette.govt.nz — PDF NZ Gazette 2009, No 75




✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🏭 Consumer Protection Guidelines for Domestic Electricity Contracts

🏭 Trade, Customs & Industry
Consumer Protection, Electricity Contracts, Domestic Consumers, Low Fixed Charges, Vulnerable Consumers