As a result of the TECT proposal and its subsequent discussions, I got the feeling that the TECT cheque was like a refund at the end of the year for Trustpower's overcharging, so I had a look at my daughter's Genesis power account. She is new to Tauranga and has very similar power usage.

The power cost was slightly less but the fixed daily charge was 33.33 cents/day. Trustpower was $1.51/day, a difference of $429.50 per annum – basically the value of the TECT cheque.

Over the 25 years of being with Trustpower, on today's price I have been overcharged $13,779 – that's a lot of money!

I phoned Trustpower and within five minutes my fixed daily charge was reduced to 35.11 cents/day and my power cost went up five cents/unit. I was on the wrong plan – my responsibility, bad luck!

How many of their customers, like me, were on the wrong plan? Don't know, don't want to know, hence my letter. I have emailed Trustpower on three occasions with no response.

Trustpower could send its customers an email making them aware they could be on the wrong plan and good savings can be made with a phone call.

W Sedcole, Maungatapu (Abridged).