Industry | Electricity distribution |
---|---|
Predecessor | North Canterbury Electric Power Board |
Founded | 1928 |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Tony King (Chair) Andy Lester (CE) |
Parent | MainPower Trust |
Website | www |
MainPower New Zealand Limited is an electricity distribution company, based in Rangiora, New Zealand, responsible for electricity distribution to nearly 42,000 customers in the Canterbury region north of the Waimakariri River. [1] MainPower was formed in 1993, [2] after the Energy Companies Act 1992 required the North Canterbury Electric Power Board to reform into a commercial power company. More reforms in 1998 required electricity companies nationally to split their lines and retail businesses, with MainPower retaining its lines business and selling its retail business to Contact Energy.
MainPower has initiated a number of local generation projects, including the Mount Cass Wind Farm (proposed) [3] and Cleardale Hydro Power Station (operating). [4]
MainPower has a total service area of 11,180 square kilometres (4,320 sq mi), covering the Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikōura districts. The area includes the towns of Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Oxford, Woodend, Pegasus, Amberley, Waipara, Culverden, Cheviot, Hanmer Springs and Kaikōura. [1]
MainPower takes electricity from Transpower's national grid at five grid exit points (GXPs): Kaiapoi, Southbrook, Ashley, Waipara and Culverden. It operates 4,873 km of circuits [1] at 66,000 and 33,000 volts for subtransmission, and 22,000 and 11,000 volts for distribution. As is standard in New Zealand, electricity is delivered to homes at 230/400 volts (phase-to-neutral/phase-to-phase).
In 2011, MainPower purchased the Kaikōura GXP and Culverden to Kaikōura 66 kV transmission line from Transpower. In 2015, MainPower completed works to up-rate the network west of Rangiora towards Oxford to 66/22 kV (from 33/11 kV). Other projects in progress include upgrading the 33 kV subtransmission line between Cheviot and Kaikōura to 66 kV, and preparing for a new "Rangora East" GXP between Rangiora and Woodend to supply Woodend and Pegasus, offloading Kaiapoi GXP.
Parameter | Value |
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Total system length | 5,165 km |
50kV & 66 kV | 224 km |
33 kV | 166 km |
22 kV (other than SWER) | 1,048 km |
6.6kV to 11 kV (inclusive - other than SWER) | 2,660 km |
Single wire earth return (SWER) | 119 km |
Low voltage (<1k V) | 949 km |
Dedicated street lighting circuit | 537 km |
In the year to 31 March 2021, the MainPower network had a SAIDI of 297.35 minutes, meaning the average customer experiences 4 hours 57 minutes hours without electricity every year. [5]
Kaiapoi is a town in the Waimakariri District of the Canterbury region, in the South Island of New Zealand. The town is located approximately 17 kilometres north of central Christchurch, close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River. It is considered a satellite town of Christchurch and is part of the Christchurch functional urban area.
The Waimakariri River is one of the largest rivers in Canterbury, on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island. It flows for 151 kilometres (94 mi) in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean.
Waipara is a small town in north Canterbury, New Zealand, on the banks of the Waipara River. Its name translates to "Muddy Water", wai meaning water and para meaning mud.
Waimakariri District is a local government district, located in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is named after the Waimakariri River, which forms the district's southern boundary, separating it from Christchurch City and the Selwyn District. It is bounded in the north by the Hurunui District and in the east by the Pacific Ocean.
The Main North Line between Picton and Christchurch and the Main South Line between Lyttelton and Invercargill, running down the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, are sometimes together referred to collectively as the South Island Main Trunk Railway (SIMT). Construction of a line running the length of the east coast began in the 1860s and was completed all the way from Picton to Invercargill in 1945; the last sections being on the Main North Line south of Picton. The designation "South Island Main Trunk" originally referred to only that line between Christchurch and Invercargill.
The Main North Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk railway, is a railway line that runs north from Christchurch in New Zealand up the east coast of the South Island through Kaikōura and Blenheim to Picton. It is a major link in New Zealand's national rail network and offers a connection with roll-on roll-off ferries from Picton to Wellington. It was also the longest railway construction project in New Zealand's history, with the first stages built in the 1870s and not completed until 1945.
Rail transport in Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand's South Island, consists of two main trunk railway lines intersecting in the suburb of Addington, carrying mainly long-haul freight traffic but also two long distance tourist-oriented passenger trains. The two lines are the Main North Line and Main South Line, collectively but unofficially known as the South Island Main Trunk Railway. There is a heritage line at the Ferrymead Historic Park that is operated with steam, electric, and diesel motive power hauling tourist-oriented services.
The electricity sector in New Zealand uses mainly renewable energy, such as hydropower, geothermal power and increasingly wind energy. As of 2019, 82% of electricity is generated from renewable sources, making New Zealand one of the countries with the lowest carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation. Electricity demand grew by an average of 2.1% per year from 1974 to 2010 but decreased by 1.2% from 2010 to 2013.
Pegasus is a new town in the Waimakariri District of Canterbury, New Zealand. Named for the nearby Pegasus Bay, it is adjacent to the town of Woodend and is 25 km north of Christchurch. Once fully constructed, Pegasus will be home to up to 6000 people. The town will have approximately 1700 residential house sites. Retail and office space is located in the centre of the town adjacent to Lake Pegasus.
Woodend is a town in the Waimakariri District, in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It may have been named because it was on the edge of what was then called the Maori Bush, or after an early settler, Thomas Wooding. It is situated with both the Waimakariri and Ashley / Rakahuri Rivers running either side. Woodend is 6.6 kilometres north of Kaiapoi and 6.3 kilometres to the east of Rangiora. Woodend is within walking distance of the town of Pegasus.
The National Grid is the nationwide system of electric power transmission in New Zealand. The grid is owned, operated and maintained by Transpower New Zealand, a state-owned enterprise, although some lines are owned by local distribution companies and leased to Transpower. In total, the national grid contains 11,803 kilometres (7,334 mi) of high-voltage lines and 178 substations.
Orion New Zealand Limited (Orion) is an electricity distribution company, based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
WEL Networks Limited is an electricity distribution company, serving the northern and central Waikato region of New Zealand. WEL is the sixth largest electricity distribution company in New Zealand, with 100,142 connections and 7,021 km (4,363 mi) of lines and underground cables. The company is 100% owned by the WEL Energy Trust.
Marlborough Lines Limited is an electricity distribution company, based in Blenheim, New Zealand. Marlborough Lines is responsible for subtransmission and distribution of electricity to approximately 26,000 customers in the Marlborough Region over a service area of 11,330 km2 (4,370 sq mi). The network includes approximately 3,400 km (2,100 mi) of power lines extending to some very isolated areas across the region, including the extremities of the Marlborough Sounds, which can only be reached by boat or helicopter.
Electricity Ashburton Limited, trading as EA Networks is a co-operatively-owned electricity distribution company, based in Ashburton, New Zealand.
Compass FM is a not-for-profit community radio station in the North Canterbury region of New Zealand. Although a community radio station, it receives no funding from New Zealand On Air, and is thus not a member of the group of "access" stations represented by the Association of Community Access Broadcasters. The station is entirely funded by advertising, and from sponsorship, most notably from lines company MainPower.
Unison Networks Limited (Unison) is an electricity distribution and fibre optic network company, based in Hastings, New Zealand.
Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park is a regional park in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It covers 417 hectares on the banks of Ashley River / Rakahuri and Okuku River, and is operated by Environment Canterbury. The park is used for fishing, walking, swimming, cycling and family picnics.
Northern Pegasus Bay is a regional park in the northern part of Canterbury's Pegasus Bay in New Zealand's South Island. It is operated by Environment Canterbury.