Trustees welcomed the $18.3 million dividend paid to HBPCT by Unison, which was confirmed at the trust’s public annual meeting on July 30.
Trust chair Kirsten Westwood said: “After reviewing the trust’s financial position, we are pleased to increase the dividend from $270 last year to $275 this year.”
“We recognise that many households are facing cost-of-living pressures, and we hope this payment provides meaningful support to families across Hawke’s Bay.
“This is a tangible return from local ownership of Unison, ensuring that the benefits of the region’s electricity network are shared directly with consumers.”
The dividend brings the total direct financial benefit returned to consumers since 1999 to more than $303 million.
A public vote is taken every five years to determine the future of the trust, and was last held in 2023.