Combined Rural Traders renews power deal with Meridian Energy
Deal with power retailer Meridian Energy for the provision of a power offer to its 9000 farmer-shareholders.
Meridian Energy is offering CRT’s farmer-shareholders a discounted rate for electricity, in conjunction with an account
management service.
The electricity will also be charged directly to farmer-shareholder CRT accounts (rather than a separate invoice), with
each $40 of spend earning a point under CRT’s Choices rewards programme.
Existing and new CRT farmer-shareholders do not have to pay entry fees or commit to a fixed-term contract to take
advantage of the special deal.
The ongoing relationship with CRT is part of Meridian Energy’s developing commitment to the energy needs of farmers,
says Nigel Broomhall, Meridian Energy’s Business and Rural Segment Manager.
“Meridian Energy is looking at ways that farmers can benefit from new technologies for metering, energy efficiency,
on-farm energy production, as well as new billing regimes which better fit farmers’ seasonal cash-flow profiles,” he
says.
Dunedin-based CRT was established 40 years ago as a co-operative society, fully owned by its farmer-shareholders, with
the aim of reducing farm input costs.
Turnover is now more than $173 million a year, with 15 CRT FarmCentres at strategic locations around the South Island.