Pioneer Energy and Entrust, which owns most of Auckland electricity company Vector, together commissioned a video which was released on social media yesterday as part of a media campaign against proposed changes.
The video features members of Waiheke Island's Hip Op-eration Crew, billed in the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest dance group, and is partly shot in Alexandra, Cromwell, Lauder, Ophir and at the Roaring Meg in the Kawarau Gorge.
It is set to a rap called Mr EA, referring to the Electricity Authority, with lyrics based on the issue.
Pioneer Energy regulatory manager Mary Ann Mitchell said the campaign was a way of encouraging people to submit against proposed reform.
''Entrust has used the Hip Op-eration Crew in campaigns in the past. I think they're brilliant.''
One of the authority's proposals was to remove a rebate paid to smaller power stations, which could threaten their survival.
This could also affect the $5million annual dividend given to the Central Lakes Trust and impact its ability to fund community projects.
Pioneer Energy is owned by the trust.
Hip Op-eration Crew founder-manager Billie Jordan said during filming last week the group basically improvised in the moment.
''But we do have rehearsals beforehand and we think about each shot and make sure everything we are trying to communicate is going to be transferred visually.''
They had never filmed in Otago before.
''The scenery is so beautiful and the people are so nice. We're having a lot of fun.''
The group has seven members, with an average age of 80.
The issue of electricity reform was discussed at a meeting in Cromwell last year, hosted by the Independent Electricity Generators Association, of which Pioneer Energy is a member.
