40,000 NZ households face power cuts due to unpaid bills amid unseasonable cold weather, prompting calls for power subsidies.

In New Zealand, unseasonable cold weather has raised concerns about electricity shortfalls and access to energy in homes. An estimated 40,000 households faced power cuts due to unpaid bills in 2023, while one in five struggled to pay their monthly power bills. The issue of access to energy has been ranked as a basic human right by scholars and advocates. In response, New Zealand's big chill has sparked calls for power subsidies for struggling households, especially given that energy companies have made near-record margins.

May 12, 2024
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