The report – which also reviews the 2004 plans prepared by those businesses – recommends best practice ways concerning the tradeoffs between distribution prices and service quality, as well as reviewing current practices.

Last August the commission found six electricity network companies had breached the commission’s performance thresholds but took no further action to control the offenders’ average prices, which should not increase in real terms, and their quality of service.

Commission chair Paula Rebstock today said sound asset management planning was an integral part of improving efficiency and providing services at a quality that reflected consumer demands.

“In the future, distribution businesses identified as falling short of best practice will be expected to develop more effective processes for understanding and responding to consumer preferences,” Rebstock said.

The commission is seeking feedback on the report by 3 June.