The revelation comes after concern from Central Otago and Wanaka residents they were being asked to pay more in a draft decision put forward by the Commerce Commission. "They can set the revenue for Central Otago, Wakatipu and Dunedin, but they have so far declined to do that," Mr Healey said. Commerce Commission price quality manager Dane Gunnell said the commission could not set prices, but it could ask Aurora to set a cap on revenue it derived from Central Otago. Aurora is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, which is owned by the Dunedin City Council, and distributes electricity to more than 90,000 homes, farms and businesses in Dunedin, Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes. Public consultation sessions were held in Dunedin and Central Otago in August, but the Wanaka and Queenstown sessions were postponed because of the country’s return to lockdown.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 25, 2020 15:33 UTC