New Zealand families are continuing to struggle to pay for basics like power, Labour’s Associate Energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. “This week alone my electorate office has helped two families have their power reconnected after being cut-off because they fell behind,” Chris Hipkins said.

“Power companies particularly those who are owned by the Government must be prepared to work with people.

“There are now over 150,000 people out of work in New Zealand who are struggling.

“We are asking that before power companies disconnect they give people every opportunity to pay their bills. The people we deal with are simply asking for power companies to be lenient and allow them to pay bills off over time.

“The Government has told state owned power companies that they expect a significant dividend. But what they should be instructing state owned companies to do is to work with customers.

“People aren’t asking for something for free, they are simply asking for an acknowledgement that times are tough and that it is taking people longer to pay bills.

“Why has the Government not written to State Owned power companies in a time of recession and directed them to work with customers who have fallen behind in with their power bills?

“This Government promised it would do everything it could to take the sharpest edges off the recession, but in reality they have demanded high dividends from power companies and done nothing to hope those who are struggling,” Chris Hipkins said.