Commission infrastructure regulation general manager Andy Burgess said the company’s reporting for the year ended March 31, 2022, showed it had complied with its statutory requirements since its agreement with the Commerce Commission came into effect.
"Reporting shows 65% of Aurora’s total capital expenditure in the first year, or $85 million, has been on assets and network improvements to enhance safety and reliability and prepare for increased demand from households and businesses."
Aurora Energy still had some work to do with its customer communications approach, he said.
"While we have seen Aurora demonstrating a commitment to engage with its customers and rebuild trust, there were instances where it did not update customers in a timely manner when service was not restored following outages, and we want this to change."
In March 2021, Aurora Energy agreed to a customised price-quality path (CPP) with the commission to recover $563 million from its customers for much needed upgrade work.
This included a 14.8% increase in average customer charges, which were subject to consultation with the public and part of its five-year investment plan to improve the safety and reliability of Otago’s electricity network.
Aurora chief executive Richard Fletcher said he was pleased to see the commission agreed the company was making good progress on its five-year investment programme.
Mr Fletcher said Aurora Energy needed to ensure its network was not only safe and reliable but could manage a changing energy future.
"Of course, our customers are central to this and we continue to explore new technologies and partnerships to ensure we can meet their needs now and into the future.
"Clear communication forms a big part of this, and this year our customers can expect to see better and more visible outage information on a refreshed website."
The commission would continue to monitor and report on Aurora’s performance under the CPP during its term from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2026.
