新西兰英语 777 Power prices

 　　Labour and the Greens announced a policy in April to cut power prices. If Labour and the Greens become the government in 2014, their government would buy electricity directly from the generating companies, like Mighty¹ River Power. They say this would save costs and the government would pass these savings² on to consumers. Consumers could save $300 a year.

　　Electricity costs have risen faster than inflation in the last few years. A report in 2009 showed that electricity companies have been over-charging for years and that has continued up till today.

　　Business New Zealand is worried about the policy of Labour and the Greens. They say that competition is the best way to bring electricity prices down.

　　The announcement of this policy came just after people started buying shares in Mighty River Power. John Key said that if anyone wanted to change their minds about buying shares, they could do this.

　　The next national elections will probably be held in November 2014. If Labour and the Greens win more than 50% of the seats together, this would be a coalition³ government.

　　Vocabulary

　　?policy – a plan the parties believe in

　　?generating companies – companies which generate the power in power stations: Mighty River, Meridian⁴ and Contact Energy

　　?consumers – people who buy things like electricity

　　?inflation – rise in prices of goods; in the last 13 years, inflation has been 2.7% a year.

　　?over-charging – charging too much; prices are too high

　　?coalition – two parties working together in Parliament

1 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

2 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 meridian   

adj.子午线的；全盛期的

参考例句：

• All places on the same meridian have the same longitude.在同一子午线上的地方都有相同的经度。
• He is now at the meridian of his intellectual power.他现在正值智力全盛期。