About 12,000 North Otago electricity consumers will share a $2 million bonus this month from electricity lines company Network Waitaki.
For about 10,200 domestic and small consumers of electricity, it will mean a discount of $149.21 (including GST) on this month's power bills.
The other 1800 consumers, who use more electricity, will receive larger discounts ranging from $181.69 to $2156, and 27 large consumers will share in a pool of almost $200,000, paid out based on their size.
Each year, Network Waitaki, which is owned by electricity consumers through the Waitaki Power Trust, pays out a discount based on its projected annual profit.
Almost $19 million has been paid back in the 14 years in which consumers have received discounts.
This year's discount of $2 million (excluding GST), one of the biggest, is $250,000 more than that paid out last year.
Both Network Waitaki chairwoman Clare Kearney and Waitaki Power Trust chairwoman Helen Brookes said the return to the company's consumers demonstrated the benefit of retaining the lines company in the ownership of its consumers.
Dr Brookes said the trustees welcomed the discount, but had "hoped it would be a bit more".
However, they also recognised Network Waitaki had spent much on upgrading the reliability of its lines network, not only in urban areas but also in rural areas where demand had increased dramatically.
It was three years since the management and governance of Network Waitaki had been returned to Oamaru, after being handled by a joint company with Alpine Energy in Timaru, and each year the discount had increased.
The trust wanted to ensure the benefits of local ownership continued, not just by way of discounts but also through lines charges and service, Dr Brookes said.
Mrs Kearney said although the discount showed up as a credit on customers' power bills and was not cash, it still meant extra money was available to householders for other spending.
"It would be good to see some of that boost local businesses," she said.
For some consumers, it could also build a bit of a credit for winter power bills, Mrs Kearney said.
Network Waitaki supplies electricity to consumers between Shag Point and the Waitaki River, the Hakataramea Valley and inland to Ohau and Lake Ruataniwha.
