Issue 01 · Waikato
Your Discounts Team
An open letter · 2026

The team

Five trustees. One commitment.

We brought the annual power-bill Discount back in 2020. In 2023 we lost our majority, and over $16.5M of consumer money has since been redirected from discounts into grants. We’re standing again to put that right.

Your Discounts Team · WEL Energy Trust Election · June 2026
Your Discounts Team photographed together in Hamilton.
L–R: Geoff Booth, Adrian Yamunanathan, Jan Johnston, Michael West, Matt Silverton. Hamilton, 2026.
Michael West

01 of 05

Trustee

Michael West

Give us back the majority we need to grow the discount.

In 2020 the Bring Back Discounts team reinstated your annual Electricity Discount. It wasn’t without opposition and was a complex challenge. Only our knowledge and commitment made it possible.

But in 2023 we lost our majority to trustees who didn’t share our commitment. At a time when electricity price rises caused stress across our community, over $16.5M of your money was used to increase grant funding. The right thing to do would’ve been to grow the discount and return that money to you.

Increasing grants funding was always on our agenda — but paid for from the Trust’s other investment returns, not your electricity bills.

We are now Your Discounts Team. Give us back the majority we need to grow the discount. It needs our skills and proven track record to do so.

Beware of others who lack commitment and have other agendas.

Re-elect Michael West and Your Discounts Team.

Matt Silverton

02 of 05

Trustee

Matt Silverton

Local business owner · IoD Emerging Director of the Year

WEL Networks is your company, let’s get its profits back in your pocket.

WEL Networks is your company — with its lines charges coming out of your pocket. Our focus is simple: let’s get its profits back in your pocket.

Since 2020, our team has delivered on that commitment by bringing back the Discount, returning $14.5 million to consumers this year alone. We’ve proven we do what we say we’ll do.

Over this time, support through community grants has also increased. This will continue via the returns achieved from the Trust’s significant investment portfolio.

However, with power prices increasing (largely outside the Trust’s control), protecting the Discount is more important than ever. Experience matters in ensuring this continues.

As a local business owner and the Institute of Directors’ Emerging Director of the Year, I will continue to bring practical experience and good governance to the role.

I’d appreciate your support to continue delivering results for our community as part of Your Discounts Team.

Jan Johnston

03 of 05

Trustee

Jan Johnston

A proven team you can trust — protecting your discounts.

In 2020, you elected the Bring Back Discounts team onto the WEL Energy Trust because discounts mattered — and they still do. This year alone we have returned $14.5 million to customers across our region.

We remain firmly committed to protecting and continuing the discounts programme, ensuring real value for households and businesses in our community — especially as cost pressures continue to rise.

We also support a strong grants programme, funded through Trust investments that benefit the wider community. However, this must not come at the expense of your discounts.

As part of Your Discounts Team, we bring the experience, knowledge and commitment to safeguard what matters most to you now and in the future.

A proven team you can trust — representing everyone, and protecting your discounts.

Vote to re-elect Jan Johnston and Your Discounts Team.

Adrian Yamunanathan

04 of 05

Former trustee

Adrian Yamunanathan

Your money. Your discount. Your grants.

I’ve sat at this table before. As a WEL Energy Trustee, I helped reinstate your annual electricity discount, returning millions to Waikato households. It took real commitment against real opposition.

Since losing our majority in 2023, Your Discounts Team couldn’t hold the other trustees accountable for their promises. Over $16.5 million of your money went to grant increases instead of growing your discount — during a time of rising power prices.

Grants matter, but they should be funded from other Trust investments, not your electricity bill. I’m running again to protect your discount, grow it, and ensure every trustee delivers on what they promise. That accountability has been missing.

Give Your Discounts Team the majority we need. Together, we’ll continue the discount programme, make it better, and hold every trustee accountable for their promises.

Your money. Your discount. Your grants. Vote Your Discounts Team.

Geoff Booth

05 of 05

Former trustee

Geoff Booth

School Principal · community leader

Your trust, your money, our integrity.

WEL Energy Trust is here to protect and benefit you, the consumer. As a beneficiary, you are entitled to your discount through the network’s regulated profits. In a time when rising electricity prices cause significant stress for many families, returning these profits is essential. Your Discounts Team is committed to do this.

Experience matters. Having been a WEL Energy Trustee, a School Principal for over 12 years, and a community leader, I see the real-world needs of our families daily. Our team is resolute and has a proven history in keeping our promises — delivering both discounts and grants. We have done it before, and we will continue to do it.

Give us the majority we need to roll up our sleeves and work for you. Please vote and re-elect Geoff Booth and Your Discounts Team.

It’s your trust, your money, our integrity.

Vote · 2026

It’s your trust. Your money. Your call.

Give Your Discounts Team the majority we need to grow the discount and hold every trustee accountable for what they promise. WEL Energy Trust triennial election — June 2026.

Read the open letter → WEL Energy Trust