Energy Trust funding changing lives

A partnership between the Eastern Bay Energy Trust (EBET), Smart Energy Solutions and EECA has seen almost 500 Eastern Bay homes made warmer, drier and healthier over the past year.

The Retrofit Insulation Programme co-funded by the partners sees aged or poor quality insulation replaced with modern insulation, in households that really need it but, in many cases, cannot afford it.

Smart Energy Solutions’ regional manager Dean Finlay said his company has been part of the partnership for the past three years and contributes between 5% and 30% of the re-insulation costs. The EBET contributes between 20% and 35% of the homeowner’s insulation costs.

Mr Finlay said the work was hugely satisfying as he and his staff saw, on a daily basis, people experiencing something life changing. “If you’ve been living in a cold, damp hard-to-heat house, with family members

made sick by the conditions, then insulation is a game changer. People write to us and call out across the street or even over the fence if we are back in their neighborhoods. They say they are using less firewood and

electricity to heat the home, their places are warmer and drier and their kids have not been in hospital. It feels good to be a part of making a difference,” he said.

Mr Finlay said that his organisation was getting in behind the Eastern BayEnergy Trust’s purchase of all Horizon Energy Shares as he could see even greater community benefit from the charitable trust owning the local lines company. “I’ll be voting vote ‘yes’ to the share purchase in the EBET’s June consumer poll. It’s about keeping the money from our community, in our community so

that it can be given back for locals to use.” EBET Chairperson, Don Lewell, said that the Trustees had been working towards 100% ownership of Horizon Energy for several years. He noted that

the Trust must have the community’s support in order to purchase the Horizon shares.

Any person with a power account would be able to vote in the consumer poll, to be held between 5 and 26 June. Mr Lewell said, “Our role is to manage and grow the Trust fund on behalf of the community so that we can support even more energy related projects.

Owning Horizon Energy outright would keep company returns in the Eastern Bay and increase the good that the Trust can do in the community.” He noted that the purchase of Horizon Energy meant the company could be delisted from the NZX, which would deliver savings to the company and enhance its profits.

The Eastern Bay Energy Trust currently grants $1.5 million per year to communityorganisations including marae, schools, clubs, preschools and district councils. The Energy Trust has returned more than $33 million to the community for energy related projects since it began in 1994.