Electric Idea

As I was working out the benefits for myself from yesterday's Budget I came across some more highlights:

Abolishing wine duty (currently 40%)
Reduction of Corporate tax from 17.5% to 16.5%

But the most curious of the lot, to every account holder regardless of necessity.



An $HK1,800 ($NZ300) electricity subsidy.

Yes, on top of the tax cuts and rebates our friendly Government is giving us a credit to pay for power. Now Green groups are outraged as they believe it encourages people to use electricity.

Well, yes. And this is the reason we live in the first world and not in caves.

My electricity bill was over twice its norm last month as I had the heater on the whole time I was in the apartment as it was cold. So fucking what? The alternative is being cold and when I am cold I am not maximising utility.

I have a greater objection with the "subsidy" to being told what to spend my $HK1,800 on, realise the difficulty that the account owner does not necessarily pay the power bill and would have preferred just to receive it in a larger tax cut.

Still it's $NZ300 of fiscal benefit that the majority of New Zealander taxpayers have STILL not received despite 9 years of Labour and promises of "chewing gum" cuts before.