Submission
Which option do you prefer?
Option Two – The alternative option – Keep Aurora Energy
Further comment
We ratepayers at 6 Upland Street Dunedin, resoundingly oppose and reject the sale of Aurora Energy which is a strategic asset.
The sale would inevitably result in increased service charges.
At present Aurora is a financial burden on ratepayers. However once Aurora’s grid system has been upgraded there will be a financial return to the DCC and Ratepayers.
The DCC has partially caused this current financial crisis by forcing Aurora to mismanage its assets via DHL so as to finance the building of the giant white elephant at Logan Park; a vanity project that enriched some people. Notwithstanding that; it is evident by newspaper reports there is total mismanagement at Aurora Energy. Having Aurora answer to a holding company has turned out to be in our opinion an unmitigated disaster. No checks and balances from a holding company which has no incentive to manage Aurora effectively. This DHL model is not an effective form of governance, nor a trusted business model in our opinion.
For long term results the DCC MUST rid Aurora of its current ineffective managers. And replace the management at Aurora by a high-profile commissioner answering under oath directly and regularly to the DCC.
Alternatively, the DCC could form a trust and transfer Aurora’s assets and line management to that Trust. There are 7 such line trust in the South Island of New Zealand all of which are delivering effectively to their consumers.
This trust would be administered by elected members of society within the region served by Aurora. Trust members could be elected integral and at the same time as the local body elections are held. This would prevent an old boys’ network taking control and buggering the profits. I firmly believe we do not need an old boy’s situation which milked monies from Aurora to finance the stadium build despite the fact Aurora was administered by DHL. So, this holding company failed the ratepayers of Dunedin.
NB:- Assets such as those controlled by Aurora Energy and provided those assets are efficiently maintained, those assets will increase in value. To paraphrase: - Why sell the gold mine when a rich seam of gold is evident.
CONCLUSION: - DO NOT SELL AURORA!
Supporting information
No associated documents with this submission.
Submitter
Submission id number: 1045154
Submitter name:
R and S Wells
Organisation