They may be kept artificially low for political reasons, which results in power utilities not recovering the full costs of production, meaning that there are insufficient funds to cover operation and maintenance expenses and the capital costs of replacing ageing infrastructure. Tariffs that are subsidised can foster a culture of overconsumption, which can lead to payment difficulties for consumers, especially when high oil prices result in higher tariffs. There is also a lack of standards and certification to ensure that only robust renewable energy equipment is installed in the Pacific.