Contact Energy Conservation Challenge

Contact Energy Conservation Challenge

Contact Energy’s Community Conservation Challenge ended July 9 with all participating regions achieving sizeable donations from their electricity savings efforts.

In total, the 11 areas covered by the campaign, where Contact is the major retailer, used 7 per cent less electricity compared with the same two months last year. Contact will donate $2,478,025 to local causes in recognition of the fantastic savings efforts in its regions.

The challenge began on May 14 when Contact called for 10 percent savings from each of its 11 major incumbencies. A total pool of $3.5 million dollars was made available from the Far North to Southland.

Contact engaged local leaders to champion community efforts in the regions. While some were disappointed not to reach the cumulative 10 percent goal, all paid tribute to the great efforts made by their communities.

The Winter Power Taskforce announced an end to the winter power crisis around half way through the challenge in early June, and required an enhancement to the Challenge to lock in savings achieved in the first half of the Challenge while giving all communities the chance to earn the full amount that Contact had originally offered.

While savings in many regions stagnated towards the end of the campaign, half of the regions got close to the 10 per cent target. All regions guaranteed their causes a healthy payout through sustained efforts to push community savings.

South Island communities achieved greater savings than their Northern counterparts. The South Island averaged savings of 10%, while the North Island averaged 5%.

Contact Energy CEO Steve Barrett commended the regional power saving efforts and thanked regional leaders for their work championing the challenge.

“It’s been great to see communities around the country band together and make major electricity savings over the course of the community energy conservation challenge. Individuals have played a large role in preventing a power supply shortage this winter,” he said.

“We’re delighted to be able to support these worthy community projects around the country.”

Mr Barrett said that while the threat of power cuts this winter had passed, it was still important for people to use electricity efficiently.

“Contact continues to support the sensible and efficient use of electricity. If people continue to use the Elec Tricks energy savings tips encouraged throughout the challenge they will continue to cut their power use and their power bills.”

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