A row between Contact Energy and the township of Kaiaua is over, but not before some residents switched to rival companies in protest over their treatment.
The tiny township on the Firth of Thames clashed with the power giant last month when residents received a bill for 69days' worth of power followed by threats they would be disconnected if they did not pay within a week of the 14-day deadline.
After residents complained, Contact sent an open letter of apology for its poor service and promised an extension for those who could not pay on time.
But on March 8, Contact arrived in town and cut off power to five families, one with five children.
Kaiaua resident Druella Taylor, who helped organise the town's protest, said six customers switched to rival power companies EmPower or Meridian.
She said it was a "load of rubbish" that those who had been disconnected had a history of overdue accounts.
Customer Tui Letele said Contact's "couldn't-care-less attitude" encouraged her to switch to Meridian.
"It was our only option, the only way of getting through to them."
Contact's communications manager, Bruce Thompson, said all the residents Contact cut off had long histories of disconnections, dishonoured cheques and breached agreements. Most Kaiaua residents were good customers.
"However, there will inevitably be a small number of customers in any community who we have difficulties with ...
"It always concerns me if the company appears to be operating in a roughshod or aggressive way, because that is not our style."
