Interestingly, in the two years when there's not a trust election, this cheque usually arrives in the lead-up to Christmas. Ironically, in the year of a trust election, the current trustees choose to distribute the cheque just weeks out from voting.
However, although this is just another issue that needs to be an open and transparent conversation with consumers, there are some claims that I believe are important to clarify.
Yes there are five of us that share similar views in regards to the purpose and performance of the trust as well as how we can bring our experience and expertise to guide the trust and Unison into the future.
One of the current trustees wrongly claimed in the paper that "a group of candidates have banded together with an agenda to spend power consumers' money on their chosen community projects" ... "this is under threat from a group of candidates who want to spend shareholders' money on their favourite project".
This was followed up by a threat that "power consumers are urged to consider their vote very carefully if they want to continue receiving the full value from their lines company Unison."
For the record - there are five candidates who are working together as a group to get elected, just as there are three current trustees who are advertising themselves as a group.
Our group has agreed that there should not be a cap to the dividend and that it should be given every opportunity to grow. We want to consult with consumers about the additional $2 million the current trustees have decided to forgo which is being spent on underground cabling ($1.5m this year) and on energy efficiency projects ($382,000). In effect, as a consumer and shareholder your current dividend is being short-changed by $40.
We also want to look at other ways of paying the dividend to consumers. Presently consumers get a cheque in the mail, which they then need to go and put into the bank. This is an old method and we want to consult on modern options such as direct-crediting the consumer's bank account or organising a credit on their power bill. We would also like to consult on an option for consumers who may wish to donate their dividend to a charitable fund that would fund projects benefiting consumers.
At the same time as having an open and transparent conversation about the above issues, we also think it's time to ask consumers if they have any interest in using any of the additional profits from Unison's unregulated business activities such as the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Indonesia to be put aside into a charitable fund to benefit the community. If the response to this idea is no then we will not pursue the concept further.
We don't have any preconceived pet projects that we want to support; although we have seen other power consumer trusts in other regions make a significant difference to not-for-profit organisations and the community.
It would be irresponsible to not have these conversations with the consumers.
Collectively what we are proposing is:
1. No cap on the dividend. i.e. The dividend will grow in line with Unison's profit
2. A review of trustee remuneration - which we believe is excessive
3. A greater level of consultation with consumers on a range of issues
4. Consulting with consumers on how the dividend is paid. i.e. cheque, direct credit or a credit on the consumer's power account
5.Consulting with consumers on using any additional profits from Unison's unregulated business activities to be put aside into a charitable fund to benefit the consumers.
I believe the trust has failed to engage with consumers well enough over many years and it's now time for this to happen.
Kevin Atkinson is standing in the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust elections. He is a former chairman of Unison and is currently chairman of the Hawke's Bay District Health Board.
Views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz
