RUNNING COSTS

The running cost for an average sized workshop costs approximately $200 a month, which is cheaper than the running costs of a three bedroom house in winter, while the water bill would be around $100. The telephone however poses a bigger issue. In your home normally you have one telephone line for the telephone, while a workshop requires two line or more, not to mention a line for the fax machine.

A good way to save money is to transfer the telephone line to the internet line as the internet line is cheaper, though sometimes you may experience bad reception during a phone call. Workshops generally require internet access for everyday business activities, and so usually a telephone company provides a business package which includes the phone and the internet lines for around $180. At Honda, they tend to use the main suppliers available. They are as follows.

Meridian Energy

Meridian generates electricity from New Zealand's renewable resources. They develop electricity from renewable resources such as, wind, water and the sun both here and overseas. Along with retailing electricity, they also develop innovative energy products and services. Currently, they generate and develop renewable energy for New Zealand, Australia, USA, Ross Island, and Tonga.

(Meridian Energy Limited, 2012)

Telecom

Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited (Telecom) was formed in 1987 out of the telecommunications division of the New Zealand Post Office, a government department. In 1990 Telecom became one of the first telcos in the world to be fully privatised. Today, Telecom has a significant level of operational scale within the New Zealand telecommunications market, with assets including:

• the PSTN network equipment for fixed line calling
• the XT 3G mobile network
• national backhaul networks
• a 50% ownership interest in the Southern Cross international cable
• one of Australia's most extensive fixed IP networks

(Telecom, 2012)

Water Care

Each day, Watercare supplies around 370 million litres of drinking water to the people of Auckland and treats around 350 million litres of wastewater and trade waste. The company draws water from around 30 sources, treats it and delivers it to homes and businesses via a vast network of pipes. It also collects, treats and disposes of wastewater, including trade waste from industry.

The company also works to ensure the Auckland of tomorrow and its people continue to enjoy dependable services by planning, constructing, and delivering new water and wastewater infrastructure in a cost-efficient manner.

Watercare provides water and wastewater services to around 1.3 million people in the Auckland region. In Papakura, the company provides bulk services to Veolia Water that manages the local network and retails services to the local community.

Watercare is a council organisation, wholly owned by the Auckland Council. The council appoints the company’s board of directors who in turn appoint the chief executive.

(Water Care Services, 2010)

Trade Waste Charges

Trade wastes charges cover the costs of receiving, treating and disposing of wastewater from trade premises on a "user - pays" basis. The trade wastes charge is an annual charge for the period 1 July - 30 June, based on the customer's actual peak discharges to the wastewater system.

The charges are based on three factors:

1. Flow (Rate of Discharge)

This covers the transportation of wastes through sewers and pumping stations to the Treatment Plant, distribution through the various treatment processes, and disposal of the treated effluent to the Manukau Harbour.

2. Suspended Solids

This covers the separation of suspended solids from the wastewater, treatment by digestion, and dewatering and disposal of the resulting bio-solids.

3. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

This covers the treatment of the organic wastes after separation of the solids, by biological processes and includes the treatment and disposal of the resulting bio-solids. “BOD” is a measure of the strength of the waste. 

The occupier of a trade premise must pay the greater of:

• the actual discharge with the charge formula applied, or
• a uniform annual charge

(Water Care Services, 2010)

(Source: www.propertycommunity.com)

References:

Meridian Energy Limited. (2012). “Company”. Retrieved from: http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/company/

Telecom. (2012). “About Telecom”. Retrieved from: http://www.telecomgroup.co.nz/content/0,8748,200633-1548,00.html

Water Care Services. (2010). “About Watercare”. Retrieved from: http://www.watercare.co.nz/about-watercare/about-watercare/Pages/default.aspx

Water Care Services. (2010). “Trade Waste”. Retrieved from: http://www.watercare.co.nz/business/trade-waste/Pages/Trade%20Waste.aspx