Yesterday, the trust concluded a review of ownership of Network Waitaki, required every five years, its five trustees unanimously voting to continue to own the 14 million shares in the company.
The move reflected the overwhelming view expressed in more than 1450 public submissions, most of which wanted the status quo to continue so they would still get the discounts.
This year $2.67 million was paid out by Network Waitaki, in discounts on electricity bills, ranging from $179.48 for the majority of consumers, mostly residential, to $2594.26 for two large consumers.
When the Government directed electricity reforms, the former Waitaki Electric Power Board, in 1992, selected a consumer trust as the best form of ownership of its assets, with the Waitaki Power Trust being established to own the shares on behalf of and for the benefit of the 12,157 consumers from Shag Point to the Waitaki River and inland to the Hakataramea Valley and Ohau.
In the last five years, about $10 million has been paid in discounts to consumers.
Trust chairwoman Helen Brookes told a public meeting of 25 people yesterday, the trust had taken into account the submissions, although she pointed out it was "not a numbers game" - the number for or against - but the reasons.
There had also been some suggestions ownership should change, discounts reduced or replaced by putting the money towards community projects to encourage economic development.
But Dr Brookes said the present consumer ownership of Network Waitaki did provide economic development through low lines charges, reliability of supply, future-proofing the network as well as the discounts.
At the same time. Dr Brookes warned not to expect discounts to continue to grow, as they had in recent years.
"That is not an automatic outcome, nor can it be taken for granted."
