|
Resolution
number WTM/2021/279
MOVED by Chairperson R Northey, seconded by Member J
Sandilands:
That
the Waitematā Local Board:
a) delegate
to Member J Sandilands and Chairperson R Northey to provide feedback for
inclusion in Auckland Council’s submission on the Economic Regulation
and Consumer Protection for Three Waters Services in New Zealand discussion
paper
b) will
consider making the following points and others in the administrative areas
of:
i) the
need for economic regulation
·
because the providers
will be monopolies this appears necessary. However, the regulation must
address all the wellbeings-social, environmental and cultural as well as
economic
ii) the type of
regulation and who would pay the costs
·
the regulator should be
empowered ensure the quality and reliability of the service and any gains
should be passed on to consumers in the form of improved services or lower
prices. The costs should be related to ability to pay so should be paid for
by other taxation or rates
iii)
what parts of three
waters the regulation would apply to
·
drinking water and
wastewater. Stormwater regulation would apply to those stormwater
responsibilities the provider entity has, to the extent practicable
iv)
should the
regulation apply to all providers
·
it should apply fully
to those providers with more than five hundred consumers and to some extent
to smaller providers where it would be practicable, beneficial and cost
effective
v)
how and when should
regulation be implemented
·
as soon as the
necessary data can be provided and it is logistically possible
vi)
what should be the
statutory objectives of the regulation regime
·
ensuring reliable
quality supply; achieving efficiency and sharing such gains with consumers;
equity of access, supply and price; responding to climate change impacts; and
taking account of Te mana o Te Wai
vii)
what should
compliance and enforcement look like
·
the necessary data and
enforcement powers need to be ensured
viii)
who the economic
regulator should be
·
although the Government
has indicated a preference for the Commerce Commission that body has so far
proved ineffective in dealing with the monopsomies of the electricity
suppliers and the supermarkets. We would probably prefer Taumata Arowai, the
new regulator of water quality because their specialist knowledge will inform
questions about service quality as they are closely related
ix)
whether we need
additional consumer protections and how those are regulated
·
there will need to an
assurance of continuity of supply as a human right for those who can’t
pay; limits of the duration of supply outages; and cultural
appropriateness
c) make
the following points in the policy areas of:
i) how
the regulator should liaise with local government to ensure the aspirations
of Auckland are met
ii) how the regulator
should liaise with local government to ensure the social, cultural, and
environmental aspirations of Auckland are met.
CARRIED
|
