Public Consultation for WEL Energy Trust Annual Plan and Consumer Discount closes 20 March 2024
CityWatch NZ encourages people living in the areas of Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council, or Waipa District Council to get involved with this public consultation.
Graphic from page 13 of the WEL Energy Trust Draft Annual Plan 2024-2025
[Editor’s note: CityWatch NZ was asked to distribute this notice about public consultation closing on the WEL Energy Trust Draft Annual Plan. This is relevant to those living in the areas of Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council, or Waipa District Council. We encourage people to read the documents and email your feedback to info@welenergytrust.co.nz before 5:00pm on the 20th of March 2024. A template was also supplied to CityWatch NZ focusing on reminding the current trustees about their election campaign slogans related to discounts and that the expected $3.3million of additional surplus should be returned to electricity consumers as discounts. As well as that issue, it is noted that the WEL Energy Trust Draft Annual Plan features large increase in the budget for staff costs and that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the UN 2030 Agenda feature in both the WEL Energy Trust Draft Annual Plan and their 2022-2025 Community Investment Strategy. It appears that if the local community does not actively influence funding priorities, then the UN will be influencing those funding priorities.]
WEL ENERGY TRUST CONSUMER DISCOUNTS
Each year Hamilton households that are electricity consumers connected to WEL Networks power lines in the WEL Energy Trust's area, receive a one-off discount to their power bill in April/May. WEL Energy Trust is the 100% shareholder of WEL Networks Ltd.
The discount is derived from the shareholder returns the Trust receives from WEL Networks, who make a profit from charging consumers who are connected to their lines network.
Currently households, families, and business are facing the pressure of massive rate hikes, increased mortgage payments and rising inflation with worse on the horizon. Many are struggling to keep their heads above water. The discount they receive as a credit on their power bill is essential for many.
The WEL Energy Trust Draft Annual Plan budget (see page 15) that is currently out for public submissions, shows a significant increase in the dividend that the Trust will be receiving from WEL Networks, up from $6.0m to $9.3m. It is concerning that all the additional $3.3m has been allocated to a distribution fund - but the discount to consumers remains similar to previous years.
It is important as many consumers as possible, make a submission to remind the WEL ENERGY TRUST that the power consumers who are part of WEL Networks are ‘Community’ too and ask that the additional funds at the Trust’s disposal are returned to the people who created the surplus.
At the recent election held in June 2023, three Trustees campaigned on ‘More Discounts’. Three more were part of the ‘Brought Back Discounts’ team. Another Trustee included "Yes to discounts" in his election slogan. Many voted for them because of their commitment to discounts and now have an expectation that the increased dividend be distributed to consumers as a discount, as was stated in their election commitment.
If you want to ensure the discount to consumers is increased considering the extra dividend that was paid to the WEL Energy Trust, please click on the link, complete the form and send.
Share with friends and family and ask them to do the same:
Download this template,
Tick’ Enable Editing’ then add your Name, Address and Phone number,
Attach your public consultation feedback with your details added to an email and send to info@welenergytrust.co.nz. before the 5:00pm on the 20th of March 2024 if your voice is to be heard.