The Electricity Authority has settled out of court with an Otago power lines company which refused to reconnect a rural customer following a storm.
The Authority took its first ever prosecution against OtagoNet, which said reconnecting Alan Dunlop's rural property near Mosgiel was too expensive.
OtagoNet has admitted breaching the Electricity Industry Act, and has paid Mr Dunlop an unstated amount of reparations, as well as $20,000 to charity and $10,000 towards legal costs.
Authority chief executive Carl Hansen said the settlement did not set any court precedents but sent a clear message that the Authority would enforce the legal protections available for power consumers.
