Board has reservations about Aurora
VINCENT Community Board members are continuing to express concerns around Central Otago’s power network following talks with Aurora Energy representatives this week.
Chief executive Richard Fletcher led a group of seven in a presentation to the board in Alexandra on Tuesday.
It was the second presentation to Central Otago community leaders following discussions with the Central Otago District Council in March.
Aurora’s poles, testing programme and Central Otago line charges were key talking points at the meeting.
Acting chairman Barrie Wills said at the meeting he would like to see greater transparency from Aurora in regards to line charges.
‘‘It feels like the wool is being pulled over the eyes of the consumer,’’ he said.
Speaking to the Otago Daily
Times, Mr Wills said it was good the company was ‘‘prepared to face up’’ to both the board and council.
However, he still held ‘‘reservations’’ over how line charges in the district were costed.
‘‘I think we are paying too much for our transmission. That is something we will have to sort through.’’
During its presentation, Aurora outlined the increasing investment in the Otago network from $27.1 million to $84.5 million over the past five years.
Board member Russell Garbutt, who issued a notice of motion in February about Aurora’s network, challenged representatives on their underinvestment in the Central Otago region and lack of accountability. Speaking to the Otago Daily
Times, Mr Garbutt continued to express his disappointment.
‘‘I’m struggling to come up with anything from their presentation that gives me utter confidence, in their ability to recognise the unfairness of the pricing and the way we’re being let down here.’’
Aurora customer and engagement general manager Sian Sutton said, in an emailed statement, the company was grateful for the opportunity to present to the board and answer its questions.
‘‘Our key focus [on Tuesday] was to engage directly with the board to listen and address their questions and to explain the progress Aurora Energy has been making across the network, since the separation from Delta in 2017.
‘‘Aurora Energy is going through a period of change and we are investing to position the network to deliver for the future.’’