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Electricity Transparency Bill (Consistent) [2015] NZBORARp 60 (28 October 2015)

Last Updated: 3 March 2019

Electricity Transparency Bill

28 October 2015

Hon Christopher Finlayson QC, Attorney-General

Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990: Electricity Transparency Bill

1. We have considered whether the Electricity Transparency Bill (‘the Bill’) is consistent with the rights and freedoms affirmed in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (‘the Bill of

Rights Act’).

2. The Bill amends the Electricity Industry Act 2010. Clause 4 introduces requirements for every electricity bill sent to domestic consumers to provide a breakdown of the amount and percentage of each component of the bill. This will allow consumers to see which parts of their power bill go to the generator, transmitter, distributer and retailer and which parts comprise GST and other Government levies. Clause 4 also requires electricity bills to indicate the percentage of electricity supplied from renewable sources.
   
3. The Bill further requires the Electricity Authority to set out the required format and methods of calculation in the Electricity Industry Participation Code to allow direct and easy comparison between different electricity retailers.
   
4. We have concluded that the Bill appears to be consistent with the rights and freedoms affirmed in the Bill of Rights Act.
   

Jeff Orr

Chief Legal Counsel Office of Legal Counsel

Disclaimer

In addition to the general disclaimer for all documents on this website, please note the following: This advice was prepared to assist the Attorney-General to determine whether a report should be made to Parliament under s 7 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 in relation to the Electricity Transparency Bill. It should not be used or acted upon for any other purpose. The advice does no more than assess whether the Bill complies with the minimum guarantees contained in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The release of this advice should not be taken to indicate that the Attorney-General agrees with all aspects of it, nor does its release constitute a general waiver of legal professional privilege in respect of this or any other matter. Whilst care has been taken to ensure that this document is an

accurate reproduction of the advice provided to the Attorney-General, neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Crown Law Office accepts any liability for any errors or omissions.