Survey shows rural folk want to keep KCE ownership

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 623, 13 February 1996, Page 1

Survey shows rural folk want to keep KCE ownership

The rural community has given a resounding vote to keep ownership of KingCountry Energy local, according to a survey by Ruapehu Federated Farmers. The recent survey asked 154 members the question: "Do you wish to retain ownership of your local electricity company?" Only five said no, eight were unsure and 141 — an overwhelming 91 .5 per cent — said yes. The survey was part of Ruapehu Federated Farmers Telephone Marketing report. In the survey over 80 people said they wanted local ownership retained because it meant that the company would have the interests of the community at heart and return the profits to the community. Others said that the current structure keeps costs to customers down. The major concern about the company from

those surveyed was their concern about a risk of takeover of King Country Energy by another company and the local community losing control. Over 80 people had positive comments about the company. Thirty-eight people said they believed they got an efficient and effective service from polite and helpful people. King Country Energy' s General Manager, Peter Till, said he was delighted with the results of the survey. "Naturally we try to monitor how our customers rate our performance. But it is particularly pleasing that an independent organisation gets results which show strong support for the company." Mr Till said he was also pleased that the local community wanted to retain ownership.

"The company' s view also is that ownership should be retained because it does have a strong community focus." "We work very hard to make sure that our business operates in the best way to meet the particular needs of the district we serve," Mr Till said. Fair system here "We have developed a way of doing business which is fair for the people of the region, but might not be supported in other parts of the country.1' Mr Till said there was one aspect of the survey which disappointed him. "It appears that our domestic customers do not realise that King Country Energy is the second cheapest supplier of domestic electricity in New Zealand."