AWARDS FINALIST: Calder Stewart, Endless Energy and Ecotricity – Reverse 144 national solar roll-out
1 Jul 2025A partnership between Calder Stewart, Endless Energy and Ecotricity has created a new model for commercial rooftop solar development. Their "Reverse 144" model speeds up commercial solar installation, which is often limited by tenant energy use and delayed by the complexities of negotiating power-purchase agreements with them. The partners say Reverse 144 flips that model. Instead of supplying energy to the building's occupants, these rooftop systems export electricity directly to the national grid - with no capital from the building owner and no tenant involvement.
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AWARDS FINALIST: Helisaw – A safer, smarter way to manage trees and lines
30 Jun 2025Helisaw operations developed by The Lines Company and Lakeview Helicopters have slashed tree-trimming costs by up to 85 per cent. Using technology developed overseas, the firms have trialled the saws - suspended from helicopters - at five sites on the TLC network and have developed operating guidelines for the potentially game-changing opportunity for New Zealand's distribution and forestry sectors.
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AWARDS FINALIST: Northpower – connecting communities and building futures in Northland
27 Jun 2025Northpower is combining strategic investment, technical innovation and community engagement to deliver reliable, future-ready infrastructure across Whangārei and Kaipara. Over the past two years, Northpower has significantly increased its capital investment - up 73 per cent to $40 million annually - to strengthen network resilience and meet growing demand.
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AWARDS FINALIST: Alsco Uniforms – Coal-free five years early
26 Jun 2025Alsco Uniforms has shifted its operations away from coal five years ahead of its 2030 target. The conversion of the Christchurch and Invercargill facilities to biomass last year completed that transition, bringing the group's total emissions reduction to 60 per cent of its 2019 baseline. This achievement places Alsco Uniforms well ahead of national targets and the emissions goals set by the Science Based Targets initiative.
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AWARDS FINALIST: Powershop – Fun and savings deliver record growth
25 Jun 2025Since bursting on to the scene in 2009 with its bold pink branding and irreverent tone, Powershop has never been afraid to challenge the energy industry's status quo. But in 2024-2025, the challenger brand proved it's more than just a colourful disruptor. A package of new cost-saving offers saw it add about 17,000 new customers in eight months - its biggest-ever gain - and lifted its customer share to an all-time high.
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AWARDS FINALIST: Powerco – Leading with culture, connection, and well-being
24 Jun 2025Powerco says its in-house leadership development programme has helped reverse record-low staff engagement, slashed requests for counselling and seen the firm meet its Māori participation target a year early. The programme, grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā - the holistic Māori model of well-being, was developed by Kacey Graham, a former Gas Hub customer manager. She moved into the people and culture team with a clear mission: to build empathetic, inclusive leaders who support the well-being of all employees - especially Māori, Pasifika, and women.
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AWARDS FINALIST: Westpower – Breathing new life into old assets
23 Jun 2025Westpower says its transformer refurbishment programme has come into its own this year in terms of scale and impact. The firm recently agreed on the purchase of 500 11 kilovolt transformers from another South Island distribution network upgrading parts of its network to 22 kV. It is now refurbishing more than 100 transformers and about 25 air-break switches a year for return to service. Westpower says its decision some years ago to establish a workshop to rebuild transformers was ahead of its time in terms of environmental stewardship.
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Awards finalists named
4 Jun 2025Almost 40 firms, individuals and community groups are named among the 31 finalists selected for this year's Energy Excellence Awards. Harsharan Singh, chair of this year's judging panel, says this year's entries highlight a powerful theme: meaningful partnerships delivering long-lasting benefits for customers, communities and the environment. "Each year, we're inspired by the sector's ingenuity and problem-solving," says Singh, operations manager at Ventia's energy networks and renewables business.
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Time to get excited!
20 May 2025Excitement is building for the 2025 New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards, with only 12 weeks to go! The judges are hard at work evaluating the entries, and finalists will be announced on Wednesday 4 June on NBR and Energy News. Book your table or ticket here today. We look forward to celebrating with you on 13 August at Tākina in Wellington. Click below to view the 2025 Energy Awards promo video:
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Entries have now closed
30 Apr 2025Entries have now closed for the 2025 New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards. Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry. The judges are looking forward to reading all about the positive activity happening in the sector. Finalists will be announced on Wednesday 4 June on NBR and Energy News. Book your table or ticket today. We look forward to celebrating with you on 13 August at Tākina in Wellington.
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