Unprecedented interest in the future ownership of Network Waitaki will result in "well over" 1000 public submissions on who should own the North Otago electricity lines distribution company.
The ownership review is carried out every five years by the Waitaki Power Trust, which owns all 14 million shares in Network Waitaki on behalf of consumers. The last review, in 2006, attracted only 13 public submissions.
The deadline for submissions was yesterday but they were still coming in so fast it was difficult to establish a final number.
It is understood they overwhelmingly support continuing with the present ownership through the consumer trust.
Trust chairwoman Helen Brookes estimated there were more than 1000 by early yesterday, but expected the final tally would greatly exceed that, with submissions still coming in by email, through Network Waitaki's website and from other centres around North Otago.
The big response this time had been prompted by rumours the shares were to go to a community trust, ending the annual discount paid to 12,157 consumers in the area from Shag Point to the Waitaki River and inland to the Hakataramea Valley and Ohau.
This year, the discount ranged from $179.48 for 10,338 customers, mostly residential, to $2594.26 for two large customers, a total of $2.67 million paid out by Network Waitaki, that is deducted from consumers' monthly electricity bills.
The consumer trust was only part way through the review process, and denied a decision had been made to transfer the shares to a community trust.
However, Dr Brookes acknowledged yesterday that controversy had prompted the large number of submissions.
"The rumour about a community trust [owning the shares] has been out there for some time but in recent weeks has grown, causing a lot of concern which is reflected in the number of submissions," Dr Brookes said.
If the shares were transferred to a community trust, consumers would lose their discounts and Network Waitaki surpluses would being distributed as grants instead.
Dr Brookes yesterday again emphasised no decision had yet been made about future ownership.
The trust would meet on Monday to set a date and venue to listen to submitters who had expressed a wish to be heard, she said.
The trust would hold a public meeting on June 30 to discuss the submissions and make a final decision.
Dr Brookes said the process was "not a numbers game" - the number of submissions for or against dictating a decision.
The trust was required to look at the advantages and disadvantages of forms of ownership before making a decision.
The first part of the process, was for Network Waitaki's board of directors to investigate all ownership options, then make a recommendation to the trust. That was for the status quo - consumer trust ownership.
The trust then considered the board's recommendation and unanimously made the same recommendation for public submissions.
