Prime Infrastructure

Powerco

Powerco is the second largest electricity and gas distribution business in New Zealand (NZ) with over 410,000 connections. Powerco's network area spreads over approximately 39,000 square kilometres across the upper central and lower central North Island of NZ. Powerco's businesses provide an essential energy transportation service to a broad, low volatility and stable customer base. This represents approximately 40% of the gas connections and approximately 16% of the electricity connections in NZ.

 

Powerco

Description

Electricity and gas distribution

Operating Platform 

Utilities 

Location

North Island of New Zealand

Acquired

November 2004

Investment

42%

Regulatory Environment

Subject to economic regulation in NZ:
- Electricity operates under a price and quality threshold (CPI-X) regime set by the NZCC. . Reset due in April 2010
- Gas operates under price control. Reset due in 2012 

Customer Base

Broad, low volatility customer base, diversified both regionally and by customer class. Electricity and gas customers are largely residential, generally contracted via retail energy companies

Asset Age & Condition

Electricity: Half economic life (25 years)
Gas: Less than half economic life (18 years) 

Capacity / Utilisation

14.74 MWh per electricity connection and 88.8 GJ per gas connection (30.5 GJ per residential gas customer)

Key Drivers

Energy demand and consumption levels
New connections as a result of new housing developments in all areas
Regional economic and population growth

 

For further information click on link to Powerco website:  http://www.powerco.co.nz/