34 | ENERGY Powerco Major gains in network performance T T Kim Newth Powerco is one of the largest electricity and gas distributors in New Zealand. Powerco’s five-year CPP investment programme includes a number of major development projects that are making a real difference to its regional networks. “We’re proud of the progress we’re making with our electricity investment programme and the benefits this work is bringing to our customers.” Four years into a massive poles and lines investment programme, Powerco is making significant progress in delivering better outcomes to its customers by strengthening the reliability and resilience of their electricity network. Since launching their five-year Customised Price-quality Plan (CPP) investment programme in April 2018 to renew and future proof ageing electricity network infrastructure, Powerco along with their field crew companies has been hard at work upgrading their network. “We’re proud of the progress we’re making with our electricity investment programme and the benefits this work is bringing to our customers,” says Powerco Acting Chief Executive Chris Taylor. Powerco is one of the largest electricity and gas distributors in New Zealand, keeping the lights on and gas flowing to more than one million customers – across 452,000 homes, businesses and organisations - throughout the North Island. Sustainability is a driving ethos across five key operational areas: resilience/reliability, contributing to a lower carbon world, health and safety, supporting their people and community engagement. Network resilience is moving ahead in leaps and bounds. Under the CPP to date, Powerco has invested $469 million in renewing and upgrading their electricity network. In the latest financial year, 4811 power poles have been replaced or reinforced (up 18% on the year before); 234km of overhead power lines have been replaced (up 28%) and more than 14,300 sites affected by trees and overgrowth have been managed (up 30%). (Trees growing close to power poles and lines are a leading cause of power cuts each year, hence the focus in this area). “We’ve worked hard to deliver on our investment promises and we’re pleased with our strong delivery numbers, capital expenditure and number of assets replaced during the past year – especially given the challenges of the COVID-19 environment.” Powerco adapted quickly when the pandemic first reached this country in 2020. Barring urgent maintenance, planned works were deferred where possible to minimise further disruption to homes and businesses. Risk to crews and the public was appropriately managed by ensuring work was done safely with social distancing. “Thanks to our heightened focus on delivery, careful planning and the dedicated efforts of our crews, we made up the time lost during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns. “In the latest COVID-19 restrictions (August/ September 2021), we again deferred planned works,” says Chris. “As the communities we support are outside Auckland, we were in Alert Levels 4 and 3 for three weeks; we expect to make up the lost time relatively quickly and we are thankful for that.” Powerco’s five-year CPP investment programme includes a number of major development projects that are making a real difference. In Taranaki, for example, faults are trending down right across the network. “Upgrading our electricity equipment in areas such as Strathmore, Pātea and Pīhama is improving our network reliability, fixing faults and ultimately decreasing the risk of power outages affecting those communities.” Power supply to all rural Taranaki primary schools has been checked, and upgraded where necessary by replacing poles, lines and cross arms, and undergrounding cables. At Kaimata School, upgrade work has brought peace of mind for Principal Charlaine Spencer and her teaching staff, who are grateful that power lines outside their school are safe and in good condition. Next in line for school supply upgrade work is rural Whanganui, followed by Wairarapa with work in other regions in the planning stages. “We recognise school facilities are multi-purpose sites, used for teaching, Civil Defence emergency centres, polling places and community events. That’s why having a safe, reliable supply at these schools is important, both for our tamariki and our rural communities.” Powerco’s community and environmental commitment is expressed in a myriad of ways, including through its support for a wide range of local events and worthy projects. “We’re passionate about our own backyard and preserving it for generations to come. Part of our conservation effort includes Replant for Tomorrow, a tree-planting initiative to redress the tree removal work we carry out to help keep our power lines clear and keep the lights on. “We also sponsor the Powerco Education Centre at Wildbase Recovery in Palmerston North, which runs programmes on wildlife protection and teaching children about the role they can play.”
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