Distribution Pricing - Consumer Survey

Electricity distribution (i.e the local Marlborough Lines network) makes up 31% of a typical domestic consumer's annual power bill in Marlborough. The balance of the charges on your monthly invoice (issued by your electricity retailer) includes transmission, generation, retail, metering and other components.

Marlborough Lines recovers its revenue from electricity Retailers. The revenue is set and determined through electricity line delivery prices.

Electricity connections typically supply either residential, general and small business, large commercial/industrial, or an irrigation consumer. The costs that Marlborough Lines passes to Retailers through line delivery prices, typically depend on the consumer type, the capacity of the consumer connection (typically through a fixed price component) and the amount of electricity consumed (variable price component).

The Electricity Authority, which is one of the regulatory authorities that has responsibility for oversight of the electricity industry in New Zealand, has advocated that electricity network companies (such as Marlborough Lines) undertake cost-reflective pricing. In effect this means that the revenue recovered essentially matches the cost of supplying consumers. We look forward to receiving your feedback.

Question Title

* 1. Which type of electricity connection(s) do you have?
Select all that apply.

A residential home that I own and live at.

A residential home that's a rental property (you either own or tenant).

Small to medium business.

Large business (processing/manufacturing with high electricity demand).

Irrigation.

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* 2. Where is your electricity connection(s) located?
Select all that apply.

A town centre (e.g. Blenheim, Spring Creek, Picton, Renwick, Havelock, Seddon).

Rural area (e.g. except the remote areas below).

Remote area (e.g. Marlborough Sounds, upper Wairau/Waihopai/Awatere Valleys, south of Ward.

If remote, please specify your location.

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* 3. How satisfied are you with the reliability of your power supply?

Very satisfied - our power supply is very reliable (very few power outages and power is restored quickly).

Neutral - our power supply is acceptable.

Dissatisfied - we think our power supply is unreliable (too many power outages and/or power is out for too long).

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* 4. Thinking of the price you pay for your electricity supply and comparing this to its reliability (i.e. the number and duration of power outages), would you prefer to:

Pay more for increased reliability (fewer and/or shorter duration power outages).

Pay less for decreased reliability (i.e. more and/or longer duration power outages).

I am satisfied with the current pricing and reliability.

Comment

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* 5. Did you realise some areas of Marlborough's electricity network cost more to supply than others?

Yes.

No.

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* 6. Do you think electricity prices should reflect the cost of supply?
i.e. should consumers in remote areas, which typically have additional costs, pay more than those in urban areas.

No – the same price for all consumers connected to the Marlborough network is fair.

Somewhat – prices should partially reflect that the cost of supplying remote consumers is greater.

Yes – prices should fully reflect the costs of providing supply.

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* 7. If pricing was based on the time that electricity was used (time of use), would that influence your electricity consumption?
i.e. higher charges during ‘peak’ periods such as winter mornings and evenings, and lower charges during ‘off-peak’ times.

No, I want to use electricity when I need it.

The price would have some influence on my time of consumption.

Yes, I would adjust my consumption away from the higher price ‘peak’ periods if this resulted in decreased prices.

Not sure.

Question Title

* 8. What would your preferred type of electricity pricing be?

A fixed price per day to connect to the network, plus a flat rate price for the amount of electricity used (c/kWh).

As above, but electricity pricing would vary depending on the time of day (time of use pricing) - i.e. a fixed daily price, plus a price for the electricity used (higher in mornings/evenings when consumption is highest, and a lower price at other times).

Pricing based on the capacity of my supply.

Pricing based on peak demand (i.e. pricing based on the maximum amount of electricity you've used at any time across a year).

Not sure.

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* 9. Are you aware that Marlborough Lines' prices are published and available on its website?

Yes

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* 10. Do you currently have solar panels installed, or are you considering installing them in future?

Yes – we have solar panels installed at our premises.

No – we don’t have solar panels installed but we are considering installing them in the near future.

No – we don’t have solar panels installed nor are we considering installing them. Go to Q12.

Question Title

* 11. Why have you installed (or might you install) solar panels?
Select all that are applicable.

Because you believe it is an ‘environmentally friendly’ way of generating electricity.

To reduce dependence on the electricity network.

To sell excess energy back into the network.

To lower your amount of electricity consumption and charges (noting the fixed charge component would not decrease as installing solar panels does not reduce Marlborough Lines costs to operate the network).

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* 12. If you have any other comments about distribution pricing, or electricity pricing generally, please add them here.

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* 13. Would you be happy for us to contact you with further questions regarding electricity distribution pricing? If so please enter a contact name with a phone number or email here.

Should you have questions about the survey please contact Marlborough Lines Customer Service Team on 03 577 7007 or email: info@mll.co.nz

Distribution Pricing - Consumer Survey

Question Title

* 1. Which type of electricity connection(s) do you have?Select all that apply.

Question Title

* 2. Where is your electricity connection(s) located?Select all that apply.

Question Title

* 3. How satisfied are you with the reliability of your power supply?

Question Title

* 4. Thinking of the price you pay for your electricity supply and comparing this to its reliability (i.e. the number and duration of power outages), would you prefer to:

Question Title

* 5. Did you realise some areas of Marlborough's electricity network cost more to supply than others?

Question Title

* 6. Do you think electricity prices should reflect the cost of supply? i.e. should consumers in remote areas, which typically have additional costs, pay more than those in urban areas.

Question Title

* 7. If pricing was based on the time that electricity was used (time of use), would that influence your electricity consumption?i.e. higher charges during ‘peak’ periods such as winter mornings and evenings, and lower charges during ‘off-peak’ times.

Question Title

* 8. What would your preferred type of electricity pricing be?

Question Title

* 9. Are you aware that Marlborough Lines' prices are published and available on its website?

Question Title

* 10. Do you currently have solar panels installed, or are you considering installing them in future?

Question Title

* 11. Why have you installed (or might you install) solar panels? Select all that are applicable.

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* 12. If you have any other comments about distribution pricing, or electricity pricing generally, please add them here.

Question Title

* 13. Would you be happy for us to contact you with further questions regarding electricity distribution pricing? If so please enter a contact name with a phone number or email here.

* 1. Which type of electricity connection(s) do you have?
Select all that apply.

* 2. Where is your electricity connection(s) located?
Select all that apply.

* 6. Do you think electricity prices should reflect the cost of supply?
i.e. should consumers in remote areas, which typically have additional costs, pay more than those in urban areas.

* 7. If pricing was based on the time that electricity was used (time of use), would that influence your electricity consumption?
i.e. higher charges during ‘peak’ periods such as winter mornings and evenings, and lower charges during ‘off-peak’ times.

* 11. Why have you installed (or might you install) solar panels?
Select all that are applicable.