Unison Networks Limited (Unison) is an

electricity distribution Electric power distribution is the final stage in the delivery of electricity. Electricity is carried from the transmission system to individual consumers. Distribution substations connect to the transmission system and lower the transmission ...

based in

Hastings, New Zealand Hastings (; , ) is an inland city of New Zealand and is one of the two major urban areas of New Zealand, urban areas in Hawke's Bay Region, Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of the North Island. The population of Hastings (including Flaxmere) is ...

. Unison owns and manages the electricity lines network in the

Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay () is a region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The region is named for Hawke Bay, which was named in honour of Edward Hawke. The region's main centres are the cities of Napier and Hastings, while the more rural ...

Rotorua Rotorua () is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. It is sited on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authorities of New Zea ...

and

Taupō Taupō (), sometimes written Taupo, is a town located in the central North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the edge of Lake Taupō, which is the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand. Taupō was constituted as a borough in 1953. It h ...

regions. The service area covers 12,000 km². The Unison group also provides electrical, civil, and vegetation contracting services; manufactures electrical products; and operates an insurance company.

Ownership

The company is 100% owned by the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust on behalf of electricity consumers in the Hawke's Bay area. The Trust is made up of five elected Trustees and operates under a Trust Deed.

Distribution network

The Unison subtransmission and distribution network is supplied from the national grid via Transpower substations. Seven Transpower grid exit points (GXPs) supply the Unison network: Redclyffe, Fernhill, and Whakatu for Napier-Hastings;

Wairakei Wairakei is a small settlement and Geothermal activity, geothermal area 8-kilometres (5 mi) north of Taupō, in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand, on the Waikato River. It is part of the Taupō Volcanic Zone and features several nat ...

for Taupo; and Rotorua, Owhata, and Takurenga for Rotorua.

Network statistics

Network performance

Unison reported the normalised performance of the network for the 2014/15 year as follows:

History

Early in the twentieth century, electricity generation and distribution was managed by local councils or municipal departments. An electricity network was established in Hastings in 1912, with a power house in Eastbourne Street. Following changes to national legislation, the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board was formed in 1924.

Subsidiaries

* Unison Contracting Services Limited * Unison Energy Limited * Unison Fibre Limited * Unison Insurance Limited * ETEL Limited * RPS Switchgear * PBA - The High Voltage Experts

References

External links

Unison website
{{Electricity companies in New Zealand Electric power distribution network operators in New Zealand Telecommunications companies of New Zealand Companies based in Hastings Hawke's Bay New Zealand companies established in 1924 Energy companies established in 1924