The five-member elected trust holds all 14 million shares in Network Waitaki on behalf of 12,157 customers under a trust deed.
Last week, Network Waitaki announced it would pay out $2.76 million to customers by way of a discount on their electricity bills.
That ranged from $179.48 for the majority of customers, mostly residential, to $2594.26 for two large customers.
It is one of the largest annual discounts made so far by the company, which covers the area from the Waitaki River to Shag Point, up the Waitaki Valley as far as Ohau and the Hakataramea Valley.
The trust made a recommendation to Network Waitaki's board of directors on the discount, which was close to what the company agreed to pay out.
The discount could be made only because the trust did not take a dividend from the company.
While the discount was a boost for customers, Dr Brookes said yesterday they also received other benefits through owning the company.
Under the trust deed, trustees were responsible for ensuring the benefits of ownership were returned to customers.
Another benefit was low line charges for customers, Network Waitaki consistently ranking in the lowest quarter of lines companies throughout New Zealand.
The company also provided a reliable supply of electricity, focusing in recent years on improving that, particularly in rural areas, by ensuring there were back-up provisions to re-route electricity around any faults which may occur.
Network Waitaki was doing that and investing in capital projects - $8 million this financial year - from income.
"All this matters because it all benefits the consumers, who own the company," Dr Brookes said.
Under the trust deed, a review of ownership which looks at all options has to be undertaken every five years. This will occur this year.
The members of the trust are Dr Brookes, Tony Brady, Bill McKerrow, Dennis Norman and Herb Tonkin.
