News

40% Saving Rewards Local Power Customers - 14 December 2004

A customer loyalty programme launched by Bay of Plenty Energy this year has been a huge success according to Chris Power, commercial manager. Mr Power advised that over three quarters of qualifying customers have already signed up to receive the extra benefits offered as part of the programme and that the number continues to grow.

The programme - called 'BOPE REWARDS' - was launched by the Whakatane-based energy supplier in June this year. Member benefits to date have included family prize draws, savings on efficiency appliances and a 40% prompt payment discount off their December account.

"We launched the programme in recognition that when a customer consistently pays on time it saves our team time and helps us to manage our costs", said Mr Power. "By rewarding this behaviour through our prompt payment discount and the new REWARDS programme, we're able to spend less time reminding customers and more time focused on our core business of looking after their energy needs."

Mr Power advised that pro-actively encouraging customers to pay on time underpinned Bay of Plenty Energy's credit control policy and the REWARDS programme was introduced to complement this approach.

"Providing the right incentives for our customers to remember to pay on time is much more cost effective and positive than chasing overdue accounts", said Mr Power. "A significant proportion of our Eastern Bay customers already pay on time every month to receive the 15% prompt payment discount and - with the high sign-up rate of the REWARDS programme - the proportion continues to increase."

Mr Power said that an added benefit of the new REWARDS programme was the support it gave to other local businesses who supply the extra incentives included in the programme such as prize draws. He said that this aspect of the programme was a good fit with the company's support of the region and the local community.

"The team and I are currently working with a number of other local businesses on some new REWARD benefits for the New Year. Encouraging customers to pay on time benefits all customers as we are able to focus our resources on providing the high level of personal service that customers expect from their local team."

For further information, please call:
Bay of Plenty Energy Tel: 0800 500 710