Trustpower is insisting the Upland Landscape Protection Society pay within the next month its share of legal costs associated with a failed appeal against the Mahinerangi wind farm.
Lawyers for the power company this week wrote to the society demanding it pay the $11,340.73 owed to it by February 16 or the company would seek immediate legal action against the group.
The money is part of the $50,000 in costs award-ed by the High Court against the society when its appeal against the wind farm was rejected late last year.
The society has been considering an appeal against the costs awarded against it, but repeated calls from the Otago Daily Times to society spokesman Ewen Carr have failed to get a response.
TrustPower community relations manager Graeme Purches said its move should serve as notice to the society it could not think it could continue wasting ratepayers' money in cases where its arguments had been repeatedly rejected by Environment Court officials.
He also expects the society will face similar requests from others seeking costs.
"Ratepayers in Otago and Clutha are already paying for the costs the society has incurred and soon it will be the turn of Gore ratepayers," Mr Purches said.
He was referring to the failed Mahinerangi appeal, in which costs were awarded to the Central Otago District Council, Clutha District Concil and Otago Regional Council.
The society also opposes TrustPower's plans for a wind farm at Kaiwera Downs, near Gore, involving the Gore District Council.
The society has said it would mount a fundraising appeal if final costs were imposed.
The worst-case scenario would be to wind up the society.
