Far North power users get $5.9m worth of discounts

More than 31,000 Far North power users will get a line charge discount from Top Energy.

More than 31,000 Far North power users will get an early Christmas present on their next power bill - a lines charge discount from power company Top Energy.

Top Energy will split a $5.9 million payout among its more than 31,000 customers, pumping the extra money into the Far North economy. Their next power bill will include a
Top Energy lines charge discount credited to customers' accounts.

Top Energy chief executive Russell Shaw said the credit will be welcome in the lead-up to Christmas and is based on the amount of power used during the year.

"All eligible electricity account holders, regardless of how they pay their power bills, will receive the credit on their next power bill after November 1," Mr Shaw said.

"The payment will appear as a one-off Top Energy lines charge credit on their power bill which is issued by their electricity retailer."

The amount paid is based on the level of energy consumed with 90 per cent of consumers receiving a $200 rebate, while commercial accounts will receive a higher amount and low usage accounts will receive less.

Those who pay by automatic payment will be able to reduce the amount they pay at each instalment, or put a stop to payments for a while. People with pre-paid electricity accounts can check their balances and choose whether or not to make their usual payments, he said.

More information about the lines charge credit is available on the Top Energy website: www.topenergy.co.nz.