Will the Government's electricity sector changes lower power prices?

Whirinaki Power Station. Photo / Sarah Bicknell

The Government is confident its shakeup of the electricity market will slow increases in power prices ... but it is making no promises about them coming down.

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee says changes planned in the biggest reform of the electricity industry in 10 years will stabilise prices, which have soared in the past decade.

They went up more than 70 per cent in the same time as the consumers price index rose 28 per cent, and households have been worst hit.

Will the Government's electricity sector changes lower power prices?