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National | Otorohanga

Native Affairs - Power Play - Part 1

Eight years ago people in the Central North Island from Otorohanga to Ohakune woke up to discover they were being charged for their electricity in a new way.

Rather than paying one bill every month they had to pay two, one for their electricity and the other for the use of the power lines that got that electricity into their homes.

The Lines Company, or ‘TLC’ as they are known, who set these line charges, is showing anything but TLC according to whānau who have no choice but to use their power lines.

They say TLC have been raising their power prices every year, to the point where they pay more for the lines carrying the power than they do for the power they use.

As Iulia Leilua found out, people have lost hope that anyone will listen to them.