Energy

Security of supply and competitive pricing are UnitedFuture’s key policy goals. We support the current regulatory structure. Line companies should have the ability to build new generation capacity. In the interests of security of supply, we support the maintenance of reserve electricity generation capacity, such as the plant at Whirinaki. The best generation is that which is the most reliable and can be consistently delivered at the lowest cost within full compliance with New Zealand’s high environmental standards.

Electricity

It is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • develop a National Energy Strategy
  • fund all stages of investment of significant NZ inventions of new sustainable energy forms to ensure the innovation is not lost to NZ and is implemented as soon as practicable
  • Invest in small-scale localised electricity generation projects. Reducing our reliance and burden on the National transmission grid.
  • upgrade the national grid to ensure security of supply
  • convert Transpower NZ Ltd to a public utility with the sole objective of transporting power through the National Grid at the lowest possible long-term cost to the consumer
  • make it easier and cheaper for micro-generators to connect directly to local electricity networks (including a requirement for lines companies and electricity retailers to trade with micro-generators at 'fair' market rates)
  • encourage the development of NZ owned and operated alternative energy schemes.
  • Resist new big-scale hydro-electricity schemes that require the damming of untouched ‘wild rivers’ such as the Mokihinui

Oil and Gas

UnitedFuture believes every effort should be made to encourage rapid exploration and development of New Zealand's potential oil and gas reserves (within current environmental standards).

It is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • oppose levying the oil industry to build additional oil storage capacity – this is a strategic government policy and as such should be paid for by the government (it is really a “defence of the realm” issue)
  • oppose a standard royalty rate on new offshore oil discoveries being fixed in advance. We believe that the general policy should be a zero royalty rate with the government reserving the right to apply a royalty, on a case-by-case basis specific to rate of any medium to large oil field discovered