Straight from city council A personal view, by Councillor Steve Morris

Last week, I introduced a series on key decisions that have changed the course of our city's history, the choices that are before us now and decisions future leaders will have to contend with.

This week I put to you one decision that could have had a major impact.

Investment advisors, First New Zealand Capital, say that Trustpower's Tauranga customers aren't getting the full benefit of the $450 TECT cheque. They found customers only get the benefit of $50-100 due to Trustpower's prices versus their competitors.

This time last year, TECT proposed increasing its annual distribution to the community from $7.5m to $25m by ending the TECT cheque after five years following a lump sum payment to Trustpower consumers. The proposal was rejected by consumers by two-to-one.

What might have been? If the cheque was removed, I believe the free-market would have forced Trustpower to drop their prices or face a customer exodus. The Tauranga community would have $25m every year to spend on amenities that would make us the envy of every provincial centre in the country. Funding of that magnitude would get us a stadium, museum, or any other big-ticket amenity you care to name.

The cost of building roads, water, sewage and core-services in the 21st century severely curtails council's ability to fund the amenities other older cities have. The TECT decision will impact the city for generations to come. Next week, what decisions await us in 2019?