File photo: ODTThe government's winter energy payment for beneficiaries and pensioners kicks in on Saturday, but some say it doesn't go far enough to cover the rising cost of heating a home. Shortages of natural gas have also driven up wholesale electricity prices. "That work is well advanced and we don't see any challenges getting power from the south to the north." There are a lot of different factors that drive electricity prices so we can't put a firm factor on what's going to happen over the winter." On Saturday, pensioners and beneficiaries start getting the winter energy payment.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 28, 2021 23:37 UTC