Water company cuts discount

Auckland City Council's Metrowater has reduced the prompt-payment discount from 10 per cent to 7.5 for customers who do not pay bills by direct debit, internet or phone banking.

The penalty came into effect on July 1, when water bills rose 5.9 per cent.

In the past four years, water bills have risen by 31.2 per cent for Metrowater's 130,000 customers.

The company, which is being abolished next year as part of the Super City plan for a single regionwide water company, wants customers to switch to electronic payment to manage costs.