Your stories

What did the $320 AECT dividend mean to you? We pay over 308,000 households and businesses an AECT dividend each year, and each one of them has a story to tell about the dividend.

We've listed a few stories our beneficiaries in previous years have shared with us below.

Hi thank you for the dividend that you send to us, we are very enjoyable thanks for looking after us.

Manoj S, Otahuhu

Thanks for the dividend - appreciate it. Ours has gone straight in the bank! Cheers

Mark R, St Marys Bay

Thanks very much for the dividend it is great and truly appreciate it. I will be putting this into my Credit Card to make it lighter. Once again thanks so much.

Alan S. Manukau City

Am trying to convince my fiancée it should go towards my wedding ring! Hmm...weddings are expensive things.

Belinda C, Auckland

My flatmate and I bought the classiest whiskey barrel you've ever seen and got it engraved. We then filled it up with Jack Daniels. We have called him Winston. You better axe somebody.

Rick J, Newton

Thank you for the dividend- i will be putting it towards jobs around the house - EG: carpet steam cleaning and a paint job .

Jordan F, Ellerslie

Three pairs of shoes for my girlfriend!

Johnny M. Newton

There are many things I could do with $320 but my elderly mother cant afford new glasses and is having difficulty seeing the television so I will be spending my $320 on new glasses for my mum.

Shirlee C. Manurewa

It is indeed a wonderful gesture from you to have again your offering, thank you very much! As I am 83 years this year and live alone your contribution will go towards heating during these cold winter months.

June M – Ellerslie (abridged from a letter)

It so lovely to get money in the mid of the year, its a good saving for youngsters. Thanks to Mercury.
Cheers

Ripika M. Otahuhu

AECT note: Thanks Ripika, but just a note that the dividend is paid by the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust, not the electricity retailer Mercury

Thank You very much for the dividend pay out of which we used to get a G.P.S Navman which has been great to help us get around Auckland a lot better.

N Thompson, Clendon Park

Thanks so much for the dividend! It's going straight into our wedding fund. And to all those complaining about the AECT wasting money on advertising, if they didn't advertise, we'd only get an extra $1 or 2 on the dividend, or save a dollar or 2 on the power bill. Just enjoy getting the $320 as not all of Auckland gets it.

Mike, Auckland CBD

Thanks for the dividend. It gave us an opportunity to be able to donate the money - to Starship Hospital & to our local cricket club.

S & P, Mt Roskill

My flatmate Bruce borrowed my car and illegally parked it. 2 hours later it was towed. Being a poor uni student Bruce couldn't afford the towage fee which increases everyday. I jumped in to bail him out with the dividend. F.U. Bruce. Thanks AECT!

Blonky J, Onehunga

Thank you so much again for the $320. I received your letter on the 21st September and my 80th birthday was on the 20th September, what a birthday present, and how well you have all done for us in spite of the recession this year. Two of my children have lost their jobs and I so concerned they would feel obliged to give me a special birthday with they could ill afford. Although we were careful it took a great worry away for me away, in my thoughts I gave you all a hug. I hope that does not sound too condescending. Lots of thank you to you all.

Mrs. S, Papatoetoe

Why are you wasting OUR money on an advertising campaign asking people what they are spending their money on? That extra money could have been paid out as a dividend, and I am going to take notice of the wastage approved by the existing Trustees when voting in future elections.

Russell H, Auckland

Unfortunately, most of our dividend will be going to pay the excess on our insurance after getting burgled this weekend. The kids are devastated. Thanks

Robyn M, Mt Albert

Thanks for the money but not happy. My power bill came 530.00 for this month. Normally it comes below 230.00 They say they did not take the reading for 3 months. Big bills no thrills

Nath A, Papatoetoe

We bought a crate of our fave wine. Thanks AECT!

Will C, Te Atatu

Thank you very much for the dividend. I used it to pay my Regional Council Rates Bill.

B, Mission Bay

The dividend is most appreciated but we will be using it to make ends meet in this recession during which we can't afford to buy any capital items (no doubt like a lot of other people).

Susan S, Grey Lynn

I was happy with the dividends as extra money is always helpful and makes us relief, but now am not getting it any more....thanks for all those years i got....

Ali A, 28 Glen Eden

I am crediting the amounts back to their individual accounts, Thanks very much for the cheque re my power.

Mrs. F, Western Springs

Thanks for the $320. We are off to Aussie in December, so will be a bit extra spending money for us.
P.S Will we still get a cheque when the so called Super City begins? Hope so.

Paul C, Auckland

AECT note: Good news! Yes, you will still get your dividend when Auckland becomes a super city. The proposed super city for Auckland does not affect the status of the AECT or your dividend. The AECT is set up to run as a separate entity until 2073.

Thank you for the dividend. I am not clued up in financial matters regarding dividends, but this payment has awoken me to the need to earn interest, rather than pay it. Too many organisations are too stingy to pay us anything, even if there is a large surplus. I will use my dividend for quick vacation with my kids.

Michael P, Howick.

Why don’t you cut the crap, all your doing is giving people their own money back. Cut their bill to start with and there wouldn’t be a need for the whole system where you take fees and expect gratitude for returning a small amount of what you have stolen.

Murray S, Hamilton

AECT note: Murray, the AECT receives dividend payments from its 75.4% shareholding in Vector and these are passed on to the AECT beneficiaries. Vector is required to run as a commercial company and make returns to its shareholders. Those returns come from the whole range of commercial businesses in the Vector portfolio that extend throughout the greater Auckland area and around New Zealand – certainly a far greater area than the Trust district and certainly from more people and businesses than the Trust beneficiaries. If this asset wasn’t majority owned by the Trust these dividends would be distributed to other shareholders like most other companies.

It would much more preferable if you stopped the stupid advertising and instead use the wasted money to reduce our power bills.

David, Auckland

AECT note: David, the AECT receives dividend payments from its 75.4% shareholding in Vector and these are passed on to the AECT beneficiaries. Vector is required to run as a commercial company and make returns to its shareholders. Those returns come from the whole range of commercial businesses in the Vector portfolio that extend throughout the greater Auckland area and around New Zealand – certainly a far greater area than the Trust district and certainly from more people and businesses than the Trust beneficiaries. If this asset wasn’t majority owned by the Trust these dividends would be distributed to other shareholders like most other companies.

I'm very grateful indeed. I have the amount credited to me power a/c. Seems to come just at the right time of the year too. Many thanks.

Mary T, Waiheke Island

I am so grateful to receive your dividend, I thank you. I was struggling to pay all my power account, so I had it credited to my account. It really helped me catch up.

Cheryl B, Manukau

This years dividend will just go towards my power bill as I like to have my bills ahead then don’t have to worry about them as much now I can just put a little towards it each time just to keep it topped up. Thanks heaps.

Gaylene R, Papakura

The dividend came at just the right time for us as we were wondering where we were going to find the money to buy groceries. Thanks so much.

Margaret M, Pakuranga

Am trying to convince my fiancée it should go towards my wedding ring! Hmm...weddings are expensive things.

Belinda C, Auckland

Thank you AECT. I am thankful for this dividend. It's very appreciated and many thanks for this. I will be using 50% of this to get a new pair of red shoes, summer tops and one pair of leggings. And the rest will pay the power bill of course! So THANK YOU!!

A Chen, Mt Eden

Why waste money on all this advertising? Why do you want to raise awareness of the trust? What does that achieve? You have all these suckers thanking you as though you had done them a favour. It's their money. I reckon it's all a lot of PR spin.

Richard C, Meadowbank

AECT note: Richard, whilst we acknowledge that our beneficiaries do pay lines charges to Vector through their electricity retailer, it is almost important to realise that the AECT dividend represents the return to the Trust from the distributed profits from Vector to its shareholders. Vector being a commercial business that has many more customers and businesses that extend well beyond the Trust district. AECT beneficiaries benefit from the profits generated from all these business units. We are keen to raise the awareness of the Trust’s ownership of this important asset for the benefits it brings to both individual beneficiaries and the wider community. If this asset wasn’t owned by the Trust then the profits would be distributed to other (probably far fewer) shareholders like most other companies.

We had recently had our camera broken at a childrens birthday party and I was so sad about not being able to take photos of my 11 month old daughter so we spent $200 on a new camera and $120 on our power bill and groceries, thank you sooo much for making this possible!

Jennifer S, Papakura

Thank you for the dividend- i will be putting it towards jobs around the house - EG: carpet steam cleaning and a paint job .

Jordan F, Ellerslie

We spent up large on a sweet as whisky barrel, had it engraved and filled it with $100 worth of tasty Jack Daniels. Cheers AECT!

Ben L, Grey Lynn

My flatmate and I bought the classiest whiskey barrel you've ever seen and got it engraved. We then filled it up with Jack Daniels. We have called him Winston. You better axe somebody.

Rick J, Newton

Thanks again for the 2009 dividend. We got to do a bit of spending this time round, purchased a boxing bag & boxing gloves for exercise & toys for the kids. Really cool - plus we got to eat out at McDonalds. It was really neat. AECT. We're glad to be a part of this for the last 3 years now. We hope it keeps going!

LCA, Dpre & Blubell U Mangere

That $320 will help pay for the continuous LPG water heater because the water cylinder was too small. Isn't it funny that we spent the money on something that will lower our electricity bills. By the way, swapping over from electric water heater to LPG continuous water heater does not really lower our monthly energy bill. Maybe save $20 each month but it does mean we have enough hot water to service everyone.

Al P, One Tree Hill

Put mine straight in the credit card payment.

Amika R, Auckland

Thanks. I am a single mum with 3 kids, and have just repaired my car costing $1600 which left me no money and minus. Thanks to the payout, I can afford a birthday pressie for my daughter and even a little birthday party.

Maria H, Sandringham

Thanks for the dividend - appreciate it. Ours has gone straight in the bank! Cheers

Mark R, St Marys Bay

I think I will put it towards the next astronomical bill you send me.

Paul R, St Johns
AECT note: Fair enough, but the AECT doesn’t send out any bills. We just send out the dividend.

I will be putting it in the bank in order to help fund legal bills for fighting the Auckland City Council criminals and their insurance company and their lawyers for reimbursement on my leaky home.

Terri E, Onehunga

I'm living with my brother and his family. Because we share the power bill, we split the dividend. With my share, I am able to allot it to a contribution towards presents we are taking to the States. My brother is putting his back on the power bill so that when we get home from overseas, the bill doesn’t look too frightening.
Thanks heaps.

Vera P, Papatoetoe

Thanks for the $320. My wife and self are in our eighty's, and appreciate any help with our household expenses. This money will pay for approximately 3 months power.

Kenneth W, Papatoetoe

We have always wanted to go overseas so i banked it and exchanged for EUROS. We leave for Amsterdam FEB 2010. Thank you Thank you Thank you, it may be a little towards a trip of this magnitude, however and dollar saved or comes my way free is BRILLIANT. P.S. it gave me 150.00 Euros for 314 kiwi :)

Holly C, Mount Wellington

Thanks you for the dividend this year i am getting married in 4 weeks so the money is a welcome extra for the fund.

Louise, L Mt Wellington

I just wanted to say "thank you very much" I had been putting off getting new specs for myself but my share of the dividend will indeed be used to treat myself to new specs. Thanks a bunch

Elizabeth, S Mt Eden

With the school holidays looming we were stressing about how on earth we were going to pay for the exorbitant costs of holiday care for our 8yr old, thanks to the dividend we were able to pay for it ...PHEW!!!! :-)

Monique, M Howick

I have been a member for the last nine years but moved to the North Shore earlier this year and am ineligible for the dividend. This is obviously because the AECT can't get it's act together to determine who was where and when - a pretty simple thing to do in the age of computers and technology. Basically it sucks, but I hope the people who were in that address for three months enjoy their dividend - paid for via my electricity.

Neill, R North Shore

AECT note: Sorry Neill but we are not able to make partial payments of the dividend as the Trust Deed specifies that the dividend must go to the person who is eligible on the roll date only (in this case 9 August 2009). Also its important to clarify that the dividend comes from the return on the Trust’s 75.1% shareholding in Vector, whose portfolio includes a whole range of commercial businesses throughout New Zealand, not just the electricity lines business in Auckland.

I believe last year my Dividend was made towards my power, and a couple of nice nights out, wining and dining with the best of Auckland. This year, if I am lucky enough to get the dividend, I've gotta fix up my new place, invest to save my power and water bill eh? Maybe, just maybe, get a bit for myself at the end of it. Many Thanks AECT.

Curtis C, Epsom

Thank-you, we had a great time last year. We live across a block of shops & one Saturday it was completely noisy, we were wondering why there was so many cars & shoppers around however when we checked our mailbox we found our cheque in the mail & knew straight away what the buzz was all about. We had a blast the week after we cashed our cheque. Its really nice to receive a payout like this. Power is not cheap but getting a little wad of cash likes this comes so often. It was nice just to have some spare cash on the spot after all the normal weekly bills are paid. Thanks AECT. We are really looking forward for the next dividend. Our car registration is sooooo due so that & a bit of spending - why not?

And its great that you promote the awareness of the dividend, hopefully a lot more people will start understanding that its not the power companies that are charging us so much. Great initiative in the first place to AECT.

LCA & Dpre & Blubell U, Manukau

Hi and thanks, am able now to buy 7m3 of topsoil to complete our garden for vegetable garden for summer thanks so much!

Claire H, Sandringham

Thank-you so much for this great dividend given to all of us customers. This shows a lot about the company and also it couldn't come at a better time. Got the power bill & Sky due in a week time so yep, glad that the dividend got that out of the way. So thank-you to everyone at AECT ;)

Rose-Marie W, Mt Roskill

Where does this money come from? It comes from the profits of lines company Vector. To give each person $320 after tax Vector makes a profit of approximately $467. Am I right or wrong in making the assumption that we all pay Vector $467 in charges through our electricity bill so we can get back $320 and the Government can pocket the difference in tax.

Peter H, Epsom

Hi thank you for the dividend that you send to us, we are very enjoyable thanks for looking after us.

Manoj S, Otahuhu

I am not used to receiving money for doing nothing, so for the latest dividend payout I would just like to thank the board most sincerely.

Barry H, St. Heliers

Just like to say, the dividend came in at a good time. As usual we get our's credited to our account which normally covers 2 months of power, but this year, probably just 1 month. We appreciate this every year. Keep up the good work.

Cecilia P, Manukau

Me and my family are so grateful as it couldn't have come at a better time. Because its so close to Christmas I can save it for then and get some extras food shopping wise.

Trista W, Papakura

What a blessing it was to receive our AECT Dividend in the post. We were able to pay some bills and buy groceries! We are truly grateful, as the timing of receiving this couldn't have been better! Thank you once again.

Joanne M, Onehunga

Thank you for your dividend, but this year happy to receive in same time all prices gone up including power, water, etc., not able to save what we got. Next year we have to plan some thing with new government policies.

Venkatesh K, New Windsor

It so lovely to get money in the mid of the year, its a good saving for youngsters. Thanks to Mercury.
Cheers

Ripika M. Otahuhu

AECT note: Thanks Ripika, but just a note that the dividend is paid by the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust, not the electricity retailer Mercury.

I brought a 1 kg Block of Cheese & 500grams of Butter. That was it the whole $320 was gone. mmmmmmm nice toasted sandwich. Thank you.

Mike, Onehunga

Much as I like to receive the dividend it does seem like a stupid thing to effectively rebate the equivalent of 5 months power costs for my household. In essence the company is overcharging me by at least 41% each year and then after deducting costs for stupidity handing me back what is left. How is this a good thing?

Jason

AECT note: The AECT receives dividend payments from its 75.1% shareholding in Vector, and these are passed on to the AECT beneficiaries. Vector is required to run as a commercial company and make returns to its shareholders, including the AECT. Those returns come from the whole range of commercial businesses in the Vector portfolio, not just the electricity lines business.

I am very happy & glad to tell you in New Zealand only one company & its responsible staff care about there valued customer Every year when we get dividend we save money to our children account for there better future & donate some money.

Janardan R. Mt Albert

Hi It is always great to receive the dividend each year and every one appreciates it. But my thinking was as follows: Most of the houses in Auckland area are old and have very old Distribution Boards, with fuses etc. Could not these dividends be utilized to upgrade the switchboards ( with MCBs etc.) thereby providing the house owner / occupier a much more safe supply system? This upgrade work would also stimulate the sagging electrical workforce, as the number of households (owner occupied) in AECT area must run in to hundreds of thousands. Even the house owners might bear part of the cost of upgrade, if necessary. Regards

Ganesh, Pakuranga Heights

I think the AECT is a great example of what can happen when Government returns its assets to the people. I will be using my dividend to support the ACT Party so that more Government utilities can be placed back in the ownership of citizens.

Blair, Kingsland

Thank you so much for this cheque. It is appreciated. Fortunately this gives me another few hundred dollars towards my ever increasing power bill. No doubt at all, it will be paid back to Mercury in way of paying for the latest power increase. How much was the profit for this last financial year anyway?

Regards Shelley
PS... will you print this letter on your website?

AECT note: The dividend is paid by the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust, not the electricity retailer, Mercury. The AECT does not make any profit.

Why is trust money being spent on this promotion?

AECT note: We are building awareness of the Trust. In previous years, fewer than 4% of beneficiaries knew about the dividend or who paid it. Since this latest advertising, the awareness is now around 50%.

Funnily enough, this money will help me set up a rival electricity company that will not rip off customers as much as this one does.

AECT note: OK, but just to clarify a point, the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust is a consumer trust, not an electricity company.

Totally guttered, as we filled out our bank details for a direct credit into our bank account on a form earlier in the year and the statement arrived that claimed... As requested, and as in last year... it will be a credit on our power account.. We were relying on the cash and really disappointed. We did not get a credit on our power account last year but a check. The same thing happened to our neighbours.

Janine, Blockhouse Bay

AECT note: Sorry about that Janine. It is likely that the update form sent earlier in the year was returned “Gone No Address”. In that case, the dividend was paid as a credit to ensure these beneficiaries received the dividend. Beneficiaries can update their preferred payment method for future dividends when the update forms are sent out next year.

I am quite disappointed with the fanfare and extravagant advertisement that has gone with the dishing out of this amount. AECT is a public entity and the disbursement is not a windfall-perhaps you could have reduced the power line rates in the first place. At least, so much money need not be wasted on this worthless advertisement-you guys do not have any accountability.

R.N, Mt Roskill

I will be saving the money AECT have paid back, but why take it in AECT power charges in the first place.

Selwyn, Weymouth

AECT note: The dividend is paid by the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust, not the lines company or the electricity retailer. The dividend comes from the return on our 75.1% shareholding in Vector which includes the whole range of commercial businesses in the Vector portfolio, not just the electricity lines business.

On behalf of my 85 year-old mother, I am annoyed that she will apparently not receive the portion to which I think she should be entitled of the AECT dividend. As a widow living alone she could certainly do with the dividend on what she has paid for power.

On 17 June 2008 my mother moved from her property in Wilmay Avenue, Papatoetoe into a retirement village apartment in Manurewa. On reading your website I see that the entire amount of the dividend will have been paid to the new owners, who moved there from out of Auckland and have therefore only been eligible power consumers for three months this year.

My mother has always paid her power accounts before the due date and I feel she should receive her share of the dividend. Surely Mercury Energy could supply the account number and termination date to AECT and the dividend could then be equably divided between her and the new owners?

My mother received her 2007 AECT dividend by direct credit to her bank account last year so it should have been easy for you to administer payment to her. As it stands, the new owners have received a significant rebate on what my mother has paid in power until June this year.

I think this is an issue which needs to be addressed by AECT and the power companies, not only for my mother, but other eligible people in similar circumstances.

Pauline, Manukau

AECT note: Unfortunately we are not able to make partial payments of the dividend. Under the Trust Deed, the dividend must go to the person who is the eligible beneficiary on the roll date only. To be eligible, you must be the person named on the power bill at a property in the Trust District on that date only. If a person who moves out of the Trust District or is not named on the power bill at the roll date, they are not eligible.

I work in a bank call centre, and really appreciated that this year some dividend payments were direct credited into accounts. However, we soon realised when the cheques arrived in your customers' letterboxes - from around midday Saturday the bank received many, many calls from people wanting to know if the cheque could be cashed - can I suggest a note, in large clear writing, that these cheques, being non transferable, must be paid into an account which has the same name as written on the cheque.

We have to advise customers they can request a special answer on a cheque, so consequently our branches open during the weekend were inundated with customers requesting special answers. Today, due to the volume of special answers, we had angry calls from customers wanting to know why their cheque hadn't been cleared. Would it be possible, next year, to mail the cheques out to arrive in letterboxes early in the week?

I would like to suggest staggering the mail out, but then you would get the calls asking where their cheques are. Thanks

Linda

I am not naive in believing it is a ‘gift' like a lot of the comments that I have read in this blog. It is simply just a rebate for the power that we have overpaid for in the first instance. It is not a lot of money and it would soon get spent as we have two new born twins.
We are simply leaving it in the power account rather than fooling ourselves that we are being given something free for doing nothing. The only thing that is free is air and that is only because we can't bottle it!

However, it is a nice gesture we are grateful and I would only wish that it would set a precedent for other providers to adopt the same stance, rather than them focussing on increasing their own profits each year, as well as paying some of their 'fat cats' exorbitant salaries, e.g. Telecom -where some of the senior management annual salaries are paid outrages amounts into the millions of dollars.

It tells me there is still alot of 'fat' that the consumer is still paying for in this country and I would show more appreciation towards 'AECT' if they were to reduce the cost of each unit of power, which would at least give some ‘day to day' relief to the average consumer. It would also help the average household to manage their expenses a little better, rather than them believing they have now received a 'handout' that they now and go spend/waste elsewhere, as opposed to treating it as rebate, that is then offset against their annual power bill. (One of the responses in this ‘blog' staggered me when one of your customers stated that they would be using more power to possibly get a bigger bonus next year. How sad! That must be music to your ears!).

I have alot more respect for Bill Gates of Microsoft who has given away great chunks of his wealth as opposed to a corporate company trying to appease its customers with a 'PR' exercise with a ‘peppercorn' payment that will hardly cause a dent in their hugh profits as well as them enjoying tax benefits.

Colin, Howick

Received dividend letter recently. Found the following line in letter: "Please note that the credit cannot be transfered or refunded by your retailer" I can only speculate as to the reason for this, but I certainly will be changing to requiring a cheque next year, as opposed to retailer credit method at present.

Energy Consumer, Auckland

AECT note: The dividend is paid by the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust, not the electricity retailer. When it is paid as a credit on a power account, we send the money to the retailer for payment on the beneficiary's power account. Asking retailers to refund or transfer that payment would be like asking for your money back after the bill has been paid.

It absultely disgusting to see AECT spending thousnads of dollars advertising the devidend payments.

Ram, Lynfield

Well, despite paying thousands of dollars a year in power bills, I will not receive an AECT dividend payment - despite living in the right area, despite being connected to power via Vector, and despite being no less deserving of receiving this benefit than any of the other thousands that do receive it.

Myself and my fellow apartment residents in Auckland City will see none of the benefit of having the AECT control our lines company. Instead, the body corporate organisation that controls our residences will receive one dividend payment for all that live in their building, regardless of the fact that there may be hundreds of families that reside within it.

We will not even see a proportional share of this dividend, which means we won't even be able to buy ourselves a bus pass, let alone a new amp for our guitar. How is it fair and reasonable to disenfranchise thousands of potential beneficiaries from the trust that we are all meant to have a benefit of? Why should my family, and thousands of other families, have to pay the same amount for power, only to have the benefit of the trust denied to us?

I strongly encourage the AECT to consider the way upon which this dividend is distributed, to ensure a fair and reasonable apportionment to those that live within apartments in Auckland City. To do otherwise is to make a mockery of the very basis upon which the Trust is meant to exist.

Andrew, Grafton

AECT note: This is something to watch out for in apartment living. The reason you haven't received a dividend is because you are not directly connected to the Vector network, with your own ICP (installation connection point). The number of ICPs in apartment buildings is determined by the developer.

Some developers set up an ICP for every apartment and leave the occupier to arrange electricity supply (and to pay the lines charges) with their preferred retailer. In this case each apartment owner has a contractual relationship with Vector, and qualifies as an AECT income beneficiary.

Other developers set up one ICP at the entry to the entire site. The electricity network beyond the ICP is then managed by the developer, owner or property manager who negotiates with electricity retailers for the bulk supply of electricity to the development. The retailer will bill one party for this bulk supply, including Vector's line charges. This means that occupiers are not individual customers of an electricity retailer. Instead, these customers pay the developer or the property manager for the electricity and lines charges. The developer (or property manager) is the only customer with an ICP and with a contractual relationship with Vector. Their name appears on the roll and therefore they receive the dividend.

This arrangement is usually done to give apartment occupiers access to bulk electricity rates, but it is at the expense of forgoing entitlement to the AECT dividend by each apartment owner or tenant.

I won't get one, because even though I have paid for power in Auckland central for several years I moved to Henderson earlier this year.

Kathryn, Henderson

AECT note: Yes, if you move out of the Trust District, you are no longer eligible to be an AECT beneficiary and receive the dividend. The Trust District is Auckland City, Manukau City and the northern parts of Papakura..

I will use the $320 to pay the next power bill of course! It should just cover it.

John, Grey Lynn

Thanks for the dividend, it is a great to receive it and I usually credit it back to my power bill as I do not have to worry about the my power bills for the next 3 months or so as I have to pay my bills. Thanks again.

Dinshaw M. Pakuranga

The rebate arrived hot on the tail of our last large winter energy bill - it was really nice to have most of it covered!

Kate W. Ponsonby

Thanks for the dividend, it will go straight back onto our power bill and make our lives easier for the next two months!! :)

Fiona M. Auckland

Thank you so much AECT :) The $320 couldn't have come at a better time *yay*, I used my half of it to clear a debt.

Jessica T. Mt Roskill South

it so lovely to get money in the mid of the year, its a good saving for youngsters. Thanks to Mercury. Cheers

Ripika M. Otahuhu

A wonderful and thoughtful gesture from AECT, money went towards a family holiday we have been planning to go to Rarotonga over xmas and this helped pay for the car rental. Keep up the great work as you certainly out reach all them other big players in this industry, we have had a phone bill with Telecom since 1973 and have had sweet nothing in return. Many thanks in return!!!

K Kaiser-Day, Ponsonby

Used it to pay off debt like everyone else with debt should do...

Smart Chap, Mt Albert

Was off sick, so the $$ really helped with the food bill this month & i managed to donate $20 to a Red Cross. So Thanks AECT. Sometimes it is just the Little things that mean so much!!!

C. Bax Auckland Central

When I received my dividend in the mail, it couldn't have come at a better time! I had a $300 bill that had to be paid but then the breaks to my car were in desperate need of a repair costing $260 & I couldn't afford to do both. Every body knew when I was home because they could hear my car screeching from a mile away, cringe! But thanks to you guys & your very generous AECT dividend of $320, I was able to do both and not feel guilty about having to skip a bill payment & not suffer the embarrassment of screeching breaks every time I stopped at traffic lights, phew! You guys are lifesavers! Thanks again =)

T. Salanoa Mount Wellington

I am extremely pleased tp be able to reduce my considerable debts by $320.00 thus reducing the worrying burden of interest rates, and loans. May this trust continue to pay us for many more years. This is an unexpected windfall, which lightens the load considerably, thank you. I am a pensioner who cannot afford luxuries, and recently even food necessities have to be budgeted for.

Alice P. Auckland

Thank you so much for the AECT dividend. It was an unexpected 'gift' for my family. We were able to buy some groceries and pay some bills until the next pay day. We are very grateful and thank you kindly for the great surprise. Thank you so much once again. It came in the right time when we were struggling financially that week.

Evelina P. Te Papapa

Thanks very much for the dividend it is great and truly appreciate it. I will be putting this into my Credit Card to make it lighter. Once again thanks so much.

Alan S. Manukau City

Thank so so much AECT for dividend!!!! it was even better because we didn't expected it! There was this camera that I really really really wanted to buy (which I couldn't afford) and with the dividend I bought the camera!!!!!!! I took pictures for many of my friends and my family and we had a good time taking photos and they liked it!! Thanks for giving good times~

So Yun W. Auckland

I very much appreciated your kind gesture. It makes it worthwhile to know that you work in partnership with us, your customers. Makes it all worthwhile. Best regards to every one of you.

Joselito P. Auckland City

I have used $300 out of my $320 to pay my deposit on the adventure of a life time, next year myself and a group of 9 others ladies are trekking to base camp on Mount Everest....how cool is that!!

Julia B. Auckland

Thanks very much for the AECT dividend. We have utilised it for payment of 10% deposit towards installation of HRV system, which we were thinking of doing this winter. It became easy to pay for the deposit amount and finalise the decision.

Atul P. Mount Roskill

First of all, thank you for being so honest in doing business and appreciating your customers. Others claim that customers are most important part of our business but you have and are continuing to prove that you really value us. You make us feel that we are investing when we pay our electricity bills. We understand you provide us with service and you charge us for that, but this Dividend is just a bonus!!!! Keep up the good work and we will be with you all our life. As for this years Dividend, it will go towards our costs while traveling all around New Zealand during Christmas

Ashna S. Mt Wellington

I feel I need to add to your page as only Aucklander's have so far. Our family really appreciates this refund- I was most concerned with the elections that it may not happen this year shareholders are deservered of this extra $ - although the extra $ went straight to the rates bill it helped the family budget no end

Maree B. Tauranga

Thank you very much for the $320:00! I went out and had an awesome tattoo done at Illicit, on K Rd. I have had Carpe Diem tattooed on the side of my neck and it's AWESOME!! :) Seize the Day!

Mikey B. Mt Eden

What a lifesaver your gift of $320 is. I didn't know how I was going to pay for the yearly servicing of my car. Because of your generosity I have one less worry. Thank you so much.

Sandy H. Blockhouse Bay

Dear Vector-my dividend went towards my elderly dogs' veterinary bill-he, like all animals, is wearing out-something one doesn't consider when you a)go to SPCA and get a puppy or b)rescue a puppy from the motorway-like I did-many years ago....as they age, they develop increasingly expensive diseases, but I would not even consider not having the years of pleasure my Jed has given me. Thank you for the help!

Clare E. Mt Albert

Our car failed its warrant because it needed new tyres and brakes. The dividend came just at the right time and went a long way towards paying for these! Thanks! :)

Julie B. Papakura

Thank so very very much AECT for your annual contributions back to our deserving and struggling families and their communities. The cost of living is steadily increasing, and your annual bonus always comes at a time of desperate need for many individuals, and families. Your trustees and staff should see the recipients smiling faces at the banks, when they go to cash their cheques. Small children around their knees or sitting in their prams off to do their grocery shopping at Pak n' Save. Yes that is the effect AECT have. In these highly competitive, fast paced times of capitalism and greed by businesses and corporations, the little and innocent people always suffer. It is heartening to have such an initiative as AECT. Your consideration and kind gesture every year toward the little person, should set a benchmark and catalyst for all other companies alike Telecom, Genesis, Air NZ, Fonterra etc. By giving you shall receive! Good on ya AECT.

Hira H. Mangere East

May I again thank you so much for the $320.00, which again arrived on my birthday, the 20 September, like last year. This time I was able to assist two people who were victims of circumstances, which made my day doubly special. I am so proud too as where other businesses fail you are dong better all the time. I have no words which really justify your incredible “business ability”, by loss of a better word.

Thank You.

Sita H. Manukau

Thanks!.... I'm going to pay my phone bill. My offspring are in the UK at the present time Ill be wealthy when they return! Thanks again.

Lynn S. Mangere Bridge

What a coincidence with the summer months rolling in, having recently relocated to a lovely entertainers paradise, I can now afford the outdoor setting which will be the jewel in my entertainers crown. Here's to you, AECT.

Maureen F. Greenlane

Towards my son student loan.

Jamie. L Manukau

Hi there this is our 3rd payout and we as a young couple appreciate the "extra money" it really is like getting a 3rd of our power bill back every year, if only Telecom and Sky TV would follow suit even it were $50 to say thank you, we appreciate your patronage. Good on you AECT. This year our cheque will go towards a new HD TV, hopefully spend a little more and power and next year our cheque will be even greater. Thank you :)

Holly C. Otahuhu

You are possibly the only service provider I know of that gives back in terms of cash. Many thanks for your generous contribution. Keep up the good work - you certainly are making a difference to people in need.

Indra S. Mt Roskill

Couldn't believe it when I logged in to the bank on a Saturday morning and there was a bonus $320! We went straight out and bought bunk beds for our boys, which were desperately needed (the 2+ year old was still in a cot, not good). They are so excited about their new beds - thanks!

Lotta D. New Windsor

Three pairs of shoes for my girlfriend!

Johnny M. Newton

What did we spend our dividend on? 2 1/4 cubic metres of soil. (Apparently this is what they meant by 'dirty 30s'. It's a little disappointing actually.)

Jen F. Mt. Albert

My partner and I have had the dividend left in our power account, so that when we ride our motorbikes around the South Island for two weeks in late November, we don't have any worries about the bill being paid on time. It also means that we have money left in our joint account for more enjoyable things on the trip.

Darryl C. Howick

There are many things I could do with $320 but my elderly mother cant afford new glasses and is having difficulty seeing the television so I will be spending my $320 on new glasses for my mum.

Shirlee C. Manurewa

Coincidentally, my cheque arrived at about the same time our old lawnmower finally rusted out. We had been thinking about replacing it with an electric one, and when we saw one on TradeMe for $300 there was only one place our $320 could go! (And I had $20 left over for something cold to drink after mowing the lawn.) So not only did my AECT cheque solve my lawnmower problem, every time I used it I guess I'll be contributing to Vector's income and making sure my NEXT cheque is a goodie too!

Vaughn D – Ponsonby

The arrival of the $320 AECT dividend coincided with our family's deliberation about whether to get a new new kitten following the passing away of our dearly-loved cat. Having a ‘bonus' like that arrive on the doorstep sealed the decision - a new Burmese kitten for our 2 young boys followed quickly thereafter.

Kate M – Freemans Bay

Thank you for the AECT dividend which you kindly sent... Much as i would like to receive it i was greatly inspired to send a cheque for the same amount to a school at Mukupi (?) who are minus desks, chairs, latrines, teachers etc. It was only a tenth of a tenth of the amount they require ($310,000). Thank you

Josephine R – Mt Roskill (abridged from a letter)

The dividend was most unexpected and i write to thank you for the generous gesture. It more than bears out the fact that the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust and your interest in Vector is a good combination and one that should always show a profit. I wish to convey my sincere appreciation at being part of the overall picture.

R Tuckey – Pakuranga (abridged from a letter)

June M – Ellerslie (abridged from a letter)