PowerNet

Supporting our region in its climate change goals has also extended to our residential consumers by helping them make more energy-efficient choices. This saw us assist Electricity Invercargill Limited (EIL) and The Power Company Limited (TPCL), which is owned by the consumers through the Southland Power Trust, in promoting energy-efficiency practices by gifting a free Wi-Fi-enabled Smart Plug to all consumers on these two networks during October and November. The Wi-Fi-enabled Smart Plug allows residents to connect the device to the internet to enjoy the benefits of efficient energy monitoring by controlling appliances and scheduling their use remotely through an app. We hope consumers are enjoying these smart plugs and the value they provide.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 25-DEC 17:45. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 25-DEC 15:15: Power off in BALCLUTHA, caused by FIRE, estimated time on: 25-DEC 18:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 25-DEC 13:08: Power off in BALCLUTHA, caused by FIRE, estimated time on: 25-DEC 15:30 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 25-DEC 12:45. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 25-DEC 09:46: Power off in FERNDALE, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 25-DEC 13:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 25-DEC 07:16: Power off in CHARLTON, DIAMOND PEAK, FERNDALE, KELVIN GROVE, and WAIMUMU, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 25-DEC 10:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 25-DEC 05:25: Power off in CHARLTON, DIAMOND PEAK, FERNDALE, KELVIN GROVE, and WAIMUMU, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 25-DEC 07:30 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

The Transition to a New Energy Future
Part of building a solid foundation to respond to the future, is working with a team of people that are adaptable and responsive to change. During 2023, there has been a strong focus on the future energy system in New Zealand, particularly as we look towards the impacts of decarbonisation, the increasing reliance on electrification and the growing impacts of climate change.

As at the end of 2023, PowerNet has enabled, or has underway, over 150MW of new electricity demand or supply (new generation). We are truly leading the country with decarbonisation and electrification.

It was, therefore, a pleasure this year to see the PowerNet team lead our industry in responding to this change by working with our customers to support the transition towards a net-zero carbon Southern region. This saw us host a major customer event
in February to signal our commitment early in the year. With a focus on decarbonising industries, the event brought together over 70 attendees to showcase the efforts of customers and key stakeholders who are electrifying industrial process heat and heavy transport.

This event was also anchored in practical support throughout the year for our major customers, where we have partnered to help them reach their own carbon reduction goals. Mataura Valley Milk is now commissioning its 20MW boiler conversion, which is expected to be completed by March 2024 and will be New Zealand’s first high-pressure electrode boiler. Alongside this, PowerNet has been working with the Alliance Group, which has now sourced an electrode steam boiler to provide steam and hot water for meat processing at its Lorneville Plant near Invercargill. We have also been working with Open Country Dairy, which has just committed to a large high-pressure electrode boiler and high-temperature heat pumps at its Awarua site.

During 2023, we also played a pivotal role in helping the wider region become 100% renewable with our work on Mercury Energy’s 43MW Wind Farm project at Kaiwera Downs, 17 km southeast of Gore. PowerNet’s build of the new 33kV line was commissioned in August and represented a significant achievement for our team. With a challenging terrain and hard rock in several areas, together with unfavourable weather events which meant we had to de-mobilise our resources to respond to network faults, our team delivered.

Typically, a project of this magnitude would be across a number of years, from the initial planning and design phases to completion. Mercury Energy required the project’s first phase to be completed within twelve months, and we are proud of our team who, despite several challenges, rose to this challenge to see us commission the site within the customer’s timeframe. Our team demonstrated how innovative solutions can enable progress – where the unconventional use of helicopters solved issues relating to the challenging terrain along the line route, reduced the construction timeline, and resulted in significant cost savings. Thank you to everyone involved – from the overhead line construction and cable termination teams, through to our engineering, technical and system control teams. I would also like to extend our appreciation to all contractors involved, together with our many partners, who have all worked together to ensure this project was delivered on time and within budget. We have since received very positive feedback from Mercury Energy, so well done to everyone involved.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 24-DEC 06:01. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 24-DEC 03:51: Power off in CHARLTON, DIAMOND PEAK, FERNDALE, KELVIN GROVE, and WAIMUMU, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 24-DEC 06:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

Our ‘One Team’ Philosophy
Making progress and achieving results as a business is only possible with a passionate and empowered team ready to make it happen. Coming to work each day, I continue to be inspired by, and grateful for, the calibre and dedication of our team. At PowerNet, our team demonstrates an enduring commitment to delivering safe, efficient and reliable power to our communities. Their attitude to our crititcal success factor of ‘continuous improvement’ makes PowerNet a rewarding place to work, and a great team to lead.

Seeing our team come together to host and participate in the 2023 Connexis Annual Connection competition held in Invercargill in September was awesome. The event showcased the skills of cable jointers and line mechanics from across New Zealand, competing over three days. Various weather patterns experienced during the event provided all competitors with an ‘extra’ challenge. I want to extend my thanks to all who participated from the PowerNet team, including those who helped in our role as hosts and logistics support for the event. Special congratulations to our PowerNet Team (West) for winning the ‘Pole Top Rescue’ event.
Building a diverse team has been further enhanced this year with a recruitment drive in the Philippines to help respond to an increasingly competitive local labour market. A successful visit to Manila and Cagayan de Oro saw over 100 line mechanics interviewed, with nine positions offered and accepted to join the team at our
Onslow Street depot. We were pleased to welcome the first of our new recruits in late November and have been taking the time to help them settle into our team, and into their new home in Southland. The rest of our new teammates will arrive from the Philippines in early 2024. I am proud of our inclusive culture, and this is an exciting opportunity to learn from each other and provide a safe, efficient and reliable power to our communities.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 22-DEC 23:54. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 22-DEC 23:53: Power off in CURIO BAY, HALDANE, NIAGARA, QUARRY HILLS, TOKANUI, WAIKAWA, and WAIKAWA VALLEY, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 23-DEC 00:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 22-DEC 23:53. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 22-DEC 22:35: Power off in TOKANUI, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 22-DEC 23:30 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 22-DEC 21:26: Power off in QUARRY HILLS, TOKANUI, and WAIKAWA VALLEY, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 22-DEC 23:30 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 22-DEC 21:03: Power off in CURIO BAY, HALDANE, NIAGARA, QUARRY HILLS, TOKANUI, WAIKAWA, and WAIKAWA VALLEY, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 22-DEC 23:30 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

Our Active Community Commitment
Our partnership with Hato Hone St John has always been special for the PowerNet team. It was, therefore, rewarding to celebrate a decade of working together with the renewal of our partnership for another three years in August.

Since our partnership started in 2014, we have been united in our shared goal to combine resources to help improve the health and safety outcomes of communities in the Southern region. Our sponsorship has provided 544 Southlanders with the skills and knowledge to recognise and respond to someone experiencing mental health concerns. In addition, PowerNet is the principal sponsor of the Hato Hone Whātuia te Waiora | Weaving Wellbeing programme to the Southern region, which
has equipped 2,386 year 7-8 tamariki on gaining resilience and coping skills. This has been well-received by principals, teachers and students, and we are thrilled that this programme has now been extended into the Otago region.
Our 10-year partnership has also enabled 8,655 lifesavers to be trained in injury prevention and emergency readiness through ASB St John in Schools and 1,478 Southlanders to be trained in Level 1 First Aid. In addition, 17 publicly accessible AEDs have been placed in the community (two of which were used to help lives in Gore and Invercargill). PowerNet also supported the Hato Hone St John Invercargill Training Hub, which held 7–15 courses each month, and we also donated four vehicle charging stations for the St John Health Shuttles within Southland.

It has been so fulfilling to see the outcomes of this partnership providing tangible benefits for our Southern communities. Appreciation must go to Hato Hone St John for their incredible efforts in keeping the people of our region safe - thank you; it has been a privilege for PowerNet to work alongside you.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 22-DEC 18:18. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 22-DEC 17:45: Power off in HEYWARD POINT, LONG BEACH, and MIHIWAKA, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 22-DEC 19:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 22-DEC 15:39: Power off in HEYWARD POINT, LONG BEACH, and MIHIWAKA, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 22-DEC 18:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 22-DEC 14:15. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 22-DEC 07:54: Power off in ALL OF PUKEAWA, AWAMANGA, PUKEAWA, and PUKEPITO, caused by Equipment failure, estimated time on: 22-DEC 16:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 21-DEC 16:15. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 21-DEC 15:47: Power off in REDCLIFF, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 21-DEC 16:30 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 21-DEC 14:15: Power off in REDCLIFF, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 21-DEC 16:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 21-DEC 13:46: Power off in REDCLIFF, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 21-DEC 16:00 Power off in WAIMATUA, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 21-DEC 15:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 21-DEC 13:46: Power off in REDCLIFF, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 21-DEC 14:00 Power off in WAIMATUA, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 21-DEC 15:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

Due to a major issue at Pukeawa Zone Substation, there will be an UNPLANNED POWER OUTAGE, tomorrow FRIDAY, 22 December 2023, from 8am to approximately 4pm.
Roads that will be affected area:
AWAMANGU ROAD, BEGGS TRACK, BLACKBURN ROAD, BLOCK ROAD, CLUTHA VALLEY ROAD, COCHRANE ROAD, MOORE ROAD, MOUNT MAITLAND ROAD, PILLANS ROAD, SMITHS TRACK, URURUA ROAD, WINGFIELD ROAD. Please treat lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 21-DEC 12:56: Power off in FLAXY CREEK, GILESPIE RD, HILLSIDE, JERICO, MT YORK, REDCLIFF, THE KEY, WAITUNA (SW), and WHITESTONE, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 21-DEC 14:00 Power off in WAIMATUA, caused by Overhead Line damage, estimated time on: 21-DEC 15:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 21-DEC 12:14: Power off in FLAXY CREEK, GILESPIE RD, HILLSIDE, JERICO, MT YORK, REDCLIFF, THE KEY, WAITUNA (SW), and WHITESTONE, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 21-DEC 14:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

As at 21-DEC 11:43: Power off in BERWICK, MILBURN, and WAIHOLA, caused by Trees over power lines, estimated time on: 21-DEC 12:00 Power off in FLAXY CREEK, GILESPIE RD, HILLSIDE, JERICO, MT YORK, REDCLIFF, THE KEY, WAITUNA (SW), and WHITESTONE, caused by This cause is being investigated, estimated time on: 21-DEC 14:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

PowerNet and Transpower publish plan to enable Murihiku Southland’s electrification.

PowerNet and Transpower today released a plan for Murihiku Southland’s electricity networks that will enable local communities and businesses to electrify and grow.

PowerNet Chief Executive Jason Franklin said the Murihiku Southland Electrification Development Plan was a result of local stakeholders, developers and large industrial and commercial users of energy identifying where the use of electricity would increase, and Transpower and PowerNet working together to enable that.

“We’re pleased to have mapped out six possible infrastructure investments that will support a future that runs more and more on electricity,” Mr Franklin said.

“Murihiku Southland businesses have told us they have plans to decarbonise, and we also know that new renewable generation is in the pipeline. As these plans become confirmed and are delivered, we will liaise with stakeholders to deliver a customer-informed network capacity plan that enables electricity to get to where it’s needed.”

The Murihiku Southland Electrification Development plan includes short-term upgrades to both companies’ networks and longer-term projects that have been identified for further investigation.

The first of the short-term upgrades is a special protection scheme on Transpower’s 110 kV transmission lines linking Gore with Roxburgh and Brydone. This project, planned for delivery in 2025, will automatically monitor and manage electricity flows.

Transpower General Manager Strategy and Customer Chantelle Bramley said the upgrade will allow the transmission lines to carry more electricity without overloading.

“This will, in turn enable increasing amounts of renewable generation, like wind, to connect to the grid in the region and still maintain the stability of the network. Businesses and communities can then electrify with confidence,” she said.

Ms Bramley said the other projects will also ensure continued access to reliable electricity as electricity demand and supply grows.

“As business and developer plans firm up, we are ready to make sure the infrastructure is there to meet the electricity needs,” she said.

Transpower’s two short-term, tactical upgrades are:
· Implementing Special Protection Schemes at regional substations
· Undertaking a Tactical Thermal Upgrade of the Invercargill–North Makarewa circuit to increase capacity
PowerNet’s two major projects are:
· Undertaking a 66kV network development to the Awarua Region
· Increasing transferable load between Invercargill and North Makarewa via the 66kV network.

Transpower’s two major projects for further investigation are:
· Duplexing the North Makarewa to Three Mile Hill line
· Upgrading or developing grid exit points, for example at Edendale.

Ms Bramley said that Transpower and PowerNet have valued the discussion and input received to create the roadmap.

“We encourage potential developers of renewable generation, as well as major users of electricity who are looking for additional capacity, to continue to engage with Transpower and PowerNet as your plans become confirmed,” she said.

“Together we can develop the infrastructure needed to meet Southland’s growing demand for renewable electricity.”

View the Murihiku Southland Electrification Development Plan.

As at 21-DEC 09:50: Power off in BERWICK, MILBURN, and WAIHOLA, caused by Trees over power lines, estimated time on: 21-DEC 12:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 20-DEC 23:56. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.

As at 20-DEC 20:45: Power off in ALL OF PARETAI, BALCLUTHA, HAYS GAP, KAKA POINT, NUGGET POINT, PARETAI, PARETAI TO KAKA POINT, PORT MOLYNEUX, TIROHANGA, and WILSHER BAY, caused by Planned maintenance, estimated time on: 21-DEC 00:00 . Visit us at https://powernet.co.nz/outages/current-and-planned-outages/ to view latest outage information for outages. Please treat power lines as live at all times and for any power outage or queries phone our system control on 0800 808 587.

We are pleased to inform you that all network faults have been repaired and no faults reported as at 20-DEC 11:37. Please phone our system control team on 0800 808 587 to report any further faults.