Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson organised the meeting after receiving letters from residents struggling to pay four-figure monthly power bills in order to keep warm during winter.
Dr Macpherson said the effect of rising power prices, a long and cold winter, the recession, and initiatives encouraging people to replace wood burners with electric heating appliances had resulted in community anger.
"There has been real hardship, people struggling to pay bills and too many at-risk people living in homes that are too cold," he said.
Dr Macpherson said with a ministerial electricity sector review open for submissions, it was an ideal time for the community to band together and deliver a strong message to politicians in Wellington.
The meeting will start at 7.30pm on Thursday in the Alexandra War Memorial theatre on Skird St.
The theatre can hold about 360 people and Dr Macpherson said it would be "disappointing" if it was not filled.
"As I've been around town in the past few days a lot of people have told me they are coming to the meeting. It promises to be a lively, instructive and entertaining meeting, ending with strong recommendations about a relief fund and a submission to the Minister of Energy," he said.
Dr Macpherson said he knew people from Cromwell were attending, and expected others from throughout Central Otago would travel for the event.
He invited representatives from various sectors to talk at the meeting and answer questions.
TrustPower community relations manager Graeme Purches will attend, along with people from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Alexandra Council of Social Services.
Bruce Blackman, from Alexandra company Central Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, will talk about the best use of heat pumps; members of Alexandra's youth group will discuss the effects financial pressures have on families; and local firewood suppliers will talk about efficient wood burning.
