$11.7m Back in Power Bills This Spring

More than 38,000 Southland and West Otago power users will see a discount on their electricity bills this spring, with The Power Company Ltd handing back $11.7 million through its annual price discount programme.

Residential customers on the TPCL network get 2.3 cents back for every kilowatt-hour they used during the year. A household that used 12,000kWh, for example, will receive $276 off their bill. The credit shows up through electricity retailers in either the September or October bill.

The company has been running the programme since 2001 and has returned $177.4 million to consumers over that time. Not a small amount.

Former TPCL chair Peter Moynihan — who held the role until this month — said local ownership is what makes it possible. "The Power Company is ultimately owned by the consumers connected to our network, so we're pleased to be able to return this benefit directly through their power bills," Moynihan said. "We also know that power use is typically higher through the colder months, so having the discount applied in September and October is particularly timely."

To qualify, consumers needed to be connected to the TPCL network on August 31 with a supply of 8kVA or greater. General business consumers receive a discount calculated on a mix of fixed charges and consumption rather than usage alone.

One important caveat: the discount only applies to TPCL network customers. Those on the Electricity Invercargill or OtagoNet networks are not included.