Updates

AWARDS FINALIST: SmartCo – collaboration with Hiko Energy Insights

2 Aug 2023

SmartCo, a joint venture serving over 250,000 consumers across New Zealand, has undertaken a data and technology initiative to improve electrical safety and network management - "HIKO Energy Insights". The initiative involved the collaboration of six different networks to inform the requirements and scope for a LV Digital Twin solution that would generate new data and actionable insights from smart meter data information. HIKO Energy Insights

AWARDS PROFILE: Methanex wellbeing plan

1 Aug 2023

Methanex has revitalised its approach to wellbeing based on Te Whare Tapa Whā, a well-established Māori model of health and care. The plan incorporates all aspects of wellness, empowering people to actively embrace their own wellbeing, breathing life into shared values, and supporting people to thrive. The 2022 wellbeing plan was co-designed by a diverse team with the aim of taking wellbeing beyond achieving wellness to flourishing.

AWARDS FINALIST: Genesis – EVerywhere

31 Jul 2023

In September 2022, Genesis Energy introduced a new product - EVerywhere - available exclusively to its customers. EVerywhere is a New Zealand first and allows Genesis EV customers to take their variable - per kWh - energy rates on the road, paying the same rate as if they were at home. Known also as Energy Roaming, the product offers potential savings of up to 70 per cent on ChargeNet, the country's largest nationwide EV charging network.

AWARDS FINALIST: Fabian Hanik, Ngāwhā Generation

28 Jul 2023

Fabian Hanik is assistant plant manager at Top Energy's Ngāwhā Generation subsidiary, in the Far North. It operates a small fleet of power stations with a team of 14. Hanik began his career at Ngāwhā power station in 2008 as an undergraduate, completing summer work experience during his Bachelor of Engineering degree at the University of Auckland. After one summer he was hooked on all things geothermal.

AWARDS FINALIST: Powerco – wellness because of our work

27 Jul 2023

Powerco says it is committed to creating an environment where employees feel valued and supported and can have "great physical and mental wellness because of their place of work, not despite it." It recognised that employee wellbeing underpins engagement and performance, and identified workforce exhaustion as one of the top people risks to meeting customer outcomes. As a result, Powerco set out to create a workplace where people feel safe and encouraged to bring their whole selves to the workplace.

AWARDS FINALIST: Firstgas Group

26 Jul 2023

In 2020, Firstgas Group implemented their wellbeing programme based on the Māori health model of te whare tapa whā. Following the success of this programme, Firstgas launched its Building Belonging or Whakawhanaungatanga, programme in 2021. Its aim is to ensure Firstgas Group is a workplace where people feel they belong and are connected and supported to be themselves. Building Belonging - Whakawhanaungatanga

AWARDS FINALIST: Fonterra PolyJoule battery-UPS

25 Jul 2023

Fonterra is a significant electricity user at about 2.5 per cent of the national grid, and relies on a sustainable and secure electricity supply. Energy storage will be essential in supporting its increased electrification. The co-operative relies on a sustainable and secure electricity supply and energy storage will be essential in supporting its increased electrification. Fonterra says unexpected power quality events at its Waitoa UHT plant caused the loss of aseptic status, with the subsequent shutdowns resulting in lost production and additional costs.

AWARDS FINALIST: Unison & Transpower - cyclone recovery

24 Jul 2023

Following unprecedented damage to electricity infrastructure in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, Unison and Transpower were faced with the challenge of restoring power to Hawke's Bay. Unison and Transpower believe they demonstrated collaboration, innovation, technical expertise and community engagement at its best, to successfully restore the region's network. With the region cut off from the rest of the county, flooding at the Redclyffe substation meant that the main electricity supply to Hawke's Bay was down and more than 200,000 people were without electricity.

AWARDS FINALIST: Ecotricity

20 Jul 2023

Ecotricity is committed to making New Zealand's electricity grid 100 per cent renewable by actively promoting the development of new solar farms, wind farms and residential solar to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and bring down the cost of electricity. Not content with being Toitū carbon zero certified since it started operations nine years ago, the firm took the bold step in March to push beyond neutrality, and is now the country's first, and only, Toitū Climate Positive certified electricity retailer.

AWARDS FINALIST: Matthew Cleland – Contact Energy

19 Jul 2023

Matthew Cleland is a highly regarded energy industry professional with an impressive career to date, and a lot more ahead of him. He started with Contact Energy in 2007 on a three-month contract researching the viability of a new LPG sales opportunity. His talent was quickly spotted, and he moved to a full-time position in the trading team, holding a number of impressive leadership roles including head of trading and general manager of the wholesale arm in his 10-plus years there.