The government should own some electricity retailing companies?

On average, everyone agrees with significant nonconsensus between 68 voters.

Reasons To Disagree

Gummint has no legitimate place in business.

Like telephone companies I think its ok for their to be competing retailers and private generators. There is no natural monopoly for anything except the lines. And does anyone remember how poor the service was from government departments in the old days? However, it seems that competition not good for the environment as low cost consumer demand will increase demand for low cost polluting generators.

Why?

It is not the place of government to run any commercial concern. By owning such they are in effect making us all shareholders in a company open to business risks; they do not have the right to do so.

Reasons To Agree

The splitting up of the electricity network into lines, generation and retailing was stupid and should be reversed. Did Max Bradford ever have a sensible idea?

government owned outlets can dictate the pricing direction to minimise pricing monopoly.

The government should own NZ post, railway, transportation, phone, electricity, water companies to prevent all the money going overseas and prevent them from charging too much.