Blackouts prove need for power company split-up say minnows

Failure to bring the Huntly station on line ahead of power cuts is a sign of market failure, say UTS complainants. (Image: Getty Images.)

Ian Llewellyn

Mon, 23 Aug 2021

Complaints to the electricity sector regulator about the Aug 9 blackouts are arguing the power cuts show the need to break up the major generation and retail companies.Small retailers Electric Kiwi and Haast Energy have made an ‘Undesirable Trading Situation’ complaint with the Electricity Authority. They have since been joined by Flick Electric and Vocus.The complaint, released Friday by the authority, argues Contact Energy and Genesis Energy both breached trading conduct rules and caused the power cuts by not offering generation t...

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