Minister rejects farmers' pylons rent proposal

Energy Minister David Parker has rejected a proposal by farmers for annual rentals from power pylons on their land.

He said today such a plan would add $100 million a year to consumers' electricity bills.

He turned down the proposal by Federation Farmers after meeting the group today.

The farmers wanted annual rentals for pylons on their properties despite most pylons having been there for decades.

Mr Parker said landowners bought the properties knowing there were pylons on the land.

There was no good reason power consumers should be expected to cough up for millions of dollars annually, Mr Parker said.

What Federated Farmers wanted would cause price increases for all electricity users.

He added he had been told the plan would boost consumers' annual electricity bills by some $100 million a year.

The Government did not support this "and I'd be surprised if any other parties did either," he said.

- NZPA