Frequently asked questions

 

 

 

 

 

1.
When is the cheque paid?
2.
Why have we received a cheque?
3.
How much is the cheque?
4.
Where has the money come from in the first place?
5.
Who is eligible for a TECT cheque?
6.
Will people outside Tauranga/Western Bay receive a cheque?
7.
I moved house during the qualifying period
8.
My cheque has been lost/stolen/not received
9.
Can we cash the cheques?
10.
The cheque is made out in joint names but we don’t have a joint bank account
11.
My name or address is incorrect
12.
Can we pay out power bill with the cheque?
13.
I have received a cheque for a husband/wife who is deceased
14.
What is the balance of our power bill?
15.
The cheque is in our landlord/body corporate name but we pay the bill
16.
Has this cheque got something to do with our TrustPower shares?
17.
We have received two cheques, is this right? Why are they different amounts?
18.
Can I have my cheque direct credited to my account?
19.
I still have a cheque from last year which is stale
20.
Do I have to declare the income in my tax return?
21.
I’ve lost my tax certificate
22.
What discounts can I get with the TECT Card?

1.        When is the cheque paid? Cheques are being mailed in the first week of November. Please be patient. The Post Office is unable to deliver them all on the first day.

 

 2.        Why have we received a cheque? TECT (Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust) are shareholders in TrustPower and because you buy your power from TrustPower and live in the qualifying area you become a Consumer of the Trust. TECT is a separate entity to TrustPower.
Qualifying area - basically the territories of Tauranga City Council and WBOP District Council. (Formerly supplied electricity by Tauranga Electric Power Board or Tauranga Electricity Ltd).

3.        How much is the cheque? Each eligible Consumer will receive a fixed amount plus a small percentage based on power usage. Trustees are yet to determine the distribution for 2013. Last year the minimum amount was $385.
 
4.        Where has the money come from in the first place?  Dividends on TECT’s 33% shareholding in TrustPower. TECT’s current policy is to distribute approximately 80 percent of its net earnings direct to Consumers by way of cheque. 
 
5.        Who is eligible for a TECT cheque? To be eligible to receive the TECT cheque in 2013, you must meet the following criteria:
Be a TrustPower Power Customer with an active power account basically in the Tauranga City or Western Bay of Plenty region continuously from 1 April 2012 to 30 September 2013. If you have moved properties or changed your account name during the qualifying period please contact the TECT Office on 578-5094 – you may still be eligible for a TECT Cheque.
 
6.        Will people outside Tauranga/Western Bay receive a cheque? No, only TrustPower power customers in the Tauranga/Western Bay region are eligible to receive the cheque.
 
7.        I moved house during the qualifying period (1 April – 30 September 2012). Do I still receive a TECT cheque? It will depend whether or not you re-registered with TrustPower in your new property and the length of time between moving properties.
 
8.        My cheque has been lost/destroyed/not received? We will put a stop payment on the cheque and issue you with a new cheque. Allow at least 10 working days for reissue.
 
9.        Can we cash the cheques? No you cannot cash the cheque at the bank – this is for your protection against fraudulent use.

You have 3 options:
1) Bank it in a bank account in the name of the person named on the cheque; OR
2) Use it to pay or part pay your TrustPower account by forwarding the cheque with the remittance slip on your TrustPower account to TrustPower; OR
3) Return your cheque to TECT to use for other community related initiatives and projects. Clearly indicate on envelope “TECT Projects” when returning cheque. A receipt will be issued.
4) Note: You cannot pay your TrustPower account at the Post Office with this cheque.
 
10.     The cheque is made out to joint names but we don’t have a joint bank account
You cannot cash the cheque at the bank.

You have 2 options:
1) Use it to pay or part pay your TrustPower account by forwarding the cheque with the remittance slip on your TrustPower account.
2) Return the cheque and letter to TECT (PO Box 356, 96 Cameron Road) with instructions (ie to reissue separate cheques). You will need to supply TECT with suitable identification.
 
11.     My name or address is incorrect on the cheque
1) The name(s) on the cheque and the address it has been posted to is the same as it appears in TrustPower’s records. Telephone TrustPower on 0800 87 87 87 to make any changes to future TrustPower accounts and cheques received from TECT; then
2) Return the cheque and letter to TECT (PO Box 356, 96 Cameron Road, Tauranga) with instructions to reissue cheque in correct name. You will need to supply TECT with suitable identification.

12. Can we pay our power bill with the cheque?
Yes – forward your cheque with the remittance slip on your TrustPower account to TrustPower. You CANNOT pay your TrustPower account though at the Post Office with this cheque. The TrustPower Office is located in Truman Lane, Mt Maunganui – by Baypark.
 
13.  I have received a cheque for husband/wife who is deceased.  The names which appear on the cheque is how it appears on TrustPower’s records.

Your options:
1) Use it to pay or part pay your TrustPower account; OR
2) Return the cheque and letter to TECT (PO Box 356, 96 Cameron Road) with instructions (ie to reissue separate cheques). You will need to provide suitable identification and a copy of the Death Certificate.

You will need to contact TrustPower on 0800 87 87 87 to change the TrustPower account into your name or future correspondence and distribution cheques from TECT will continue to appear in both names.
 
14.  What is the balance of our power bill?
Contact TrustPower – phone 0800 87 87 87 for this information.

15.  The account is in our landlords/body corporate name but we pay the bill – not fair  The cheque is paid to the person or organisation named on the TrustPower account. This person(s) are therefore entitled to receive the cheque as they are liable to pay the bill – you will need to follow it up with the landlord. The landlord is not obliged to give you the cheque or any portion of it.

16.  Has this cheque got something to do with our TrustPower shares? No. You have received this cheque because TECT are shareholders in TrustPower.

17.  We have received two cheques, is this right? Why are they different amounts? If you have received more than one cheque this is because you have two TrustPower power accounts. Each cheque includes a fixed sum of $385 plus a portion based on power usage.
 
18.  Can I have my cheque direct credited to my account? Unfortunately this facility is not available because of the nature of the data for 60,000 Consumers.
 
19.  I still have a cheque from previous year which is now stale – what do I do? Cheques go stale after 6 months and automatically have a stop payment notice issued on the cheque. Send the stale cheque back to TECT for reissuing with instructions of address details. Cheque will be reissued in name that appears on stale cheque, unless suitable identification can be provided re name changes etc.
 
20.   Do I have to declare the income in my tax return? No. The cheque distribution is being made from TECT’s capital and therefore is not taxable to you. It should not be included in your tax return.
 
21.  I’ve lost my tax certificate Cheque paid November 2012 – this distribution is from TECT’s capital and therefore is not taxable to you. You do not need to declare this income. It should not be included in your tax return.
 
22.  What discounts can I get with my TECT Card? Refer back of Card and on TECT’s website at www.tect.org.nz for a list of current discounts.
 
 
STILL CONFUSED? 
 
Phone             TECT office on 578-5094
Email              info@tect.org.nz
Visit               96 Cameron Road, Tauranga (upstairs BDO building)