Empower touts for trade in schools

By Dita De Boni

Following the lead of Telecom and Clear, Auckland-based electricity retailer Empower is tapping schools to boost business.

The one-year-old company wants to expand its commercial customer base of 4000 by encouraging staff, parents and relatives to sign on.

Under an "Energy for Education" campaign, schools are promised a percentage of each family's monthly Empower bill, with proceeds distributed to schools every three months.

Empower says 140 schools have so far signed.

Director and marketing manager Dave Spicer said cash-strapped schools had welcomed the opportunity for additional money without having to seek donations from parents.

"The principals and boards of trustees have identified similarities with the Telecom Schools Connection programme and Clear's Friends of the School scheme and are right behind us," he said.

Managing director Shane McKillen said Empower would donate 3 per cent - an average of $30 - per customer each year to participating schools.

He said the company was the only retailer of the six created under last year's Electricity Industry Reform Act to offer such a scheme.