Hawke's Bay power trust to decide on size of rebate next month

HBPCT chairwoman Diana Kirton. Photo / Supplied.

Hawke's Bay power consumers will next month find out how much cash-back they will get, after the Hawke's Bay Power Consumer Trust decides how to spend a $14.4 million dividend.

HBPCT owns the Hastings-based electricity distributor Unison Networks Ltd, and following the trust's annual report to consumers, HBPCT chairwoman Diana Kirton confirmed Unison this year would give the trust an increased dividend of $14.m - up from $12.7m last year.

"When we receive that, which will be next month, we'll discuss how it is going to be distributed - how much each consumer will get and how much goes out to the other initiatives we support."

Last year, 60,000 consumers received a cheque for $200 each.

The trust last year also, for the ninth year in a row, offered a 50 per cent discount to those connected to Unison's lines network in the Hastings District and Napier city areas on the normal price for electric blankets.

"Around 1800 people accessed this funding last year," Kirton said.

"Unison Networks has had another successful year (for the year to March 31, 2018) in both operational activities and financial outcomes. Therefore, we are pleased to announce there will be another distribution to consumers by cheque later this year."

Kirton pointed out that consumers should make sure the same name was on the power account and registered with the bank as cheques would be addressed to the registered bill-payer at addresses connected to the Unison network.

Following the distribution of this year's dividend, the trust would have provided $157m of direct financial benefits to consumers since it took ownership of Unison in 1999.