A year of significant change for Centralines and Central Hawke's Bay

by Isaiah Martin

Centralines is proud to announce a year of solid growth and development, as it continues to provide reliable and efficient power solutions to the Central Hawke’s Bay community, despite numerous challenges including the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Centralines is proud to announce a year of solid growth and development, as it continues to provide reliable and efficient power solutions to the Central Hawke’s Bay community, despite numerous challenges including the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle.

The reporting period saw Centralines move to a new, state-of-the-art depot and office, designed to meet the future needs of the community, serving as a hub for community meetings, learning, and gathering. Centralines also onboarded two external contractors to undertake an unprecedented works programme, which included significant customer connections and network projects.

Chair for Centralines, Fenton Wilson says “Centralines' team has demonstrated unwavering commitment and adaptability in the face of challenges, ensuring power restoration to our customers in extremely challenging conditions during the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. We take great pride in our experience and the resilience our approach to asset management brings to our community.”

Despite the setbacks caused by the cyclone, network performance over the year remained in line with previous years and stakeholder expectations. Centralines also invested significantly in its network with a capital spend of $11.5 million, ensuring a reliable network that meets the electricity needs of Central Hawke’s Bay power consumers and supports the district's ongoing growth.

Centralines is committed to the Central Hawke’s Bay community, providing local employment, investment in our community, development of energy related projects to help regional growth and sustainability, as well as distributing discounts totalling $1.3 million to consumers through electricity retailers.

Centralines also pledged $199,252 in community funding to over 60 local organisations that support the wellbeing of our community. These organisations included numerous sports teams, community events, social services and schools.

The company's focus on safety and health at work is evident, with various measures in place to ensure the wellbeing of their staff. Like many industries, Centralines is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, and in response we have implemented an integrated strategy focusing on training and career development for locals, attracting skilled workers, investing in people, and providing clear career pathways within the industry.

Looking ahead, the focus is on growth and ensuring Centralines is ready for the industry changes that lie ahead which include decarbonising the economy through electrification of industry and transport and providing renewable green energy.

“We are delighted with our achievements over the past year but realise there is a lot of work in front of us as we look to deliver the network infrastructure required to meet expected future loads from electric vehicles and industry”, says Wilson.

The year also marked a significant milestone of 100 years of delivering reliable electricity supply to the Central Hawke’s Bay community. “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved in a century, from creating local employment to investing in smarter energy technologies. Our unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and innovation will continue to drive us forward as we embark on the next 100 years", says Wilson.

During the year, two long serving Directors, Board Chair Dr Ian Walker and Audit and Risk Committee Chair Derek Walker, stepped down. “On behalf of everyone at Centralines, I would like to thank both Dr Walker and Mr Walker for their outstanding contribution and many years of service”, says Wilson.

Centralines delivered a strong financial result for the year, with an after-tax profit of $2.1 million from total revenue of $15.5 million, reflecting growth in connections and customer contributions. With a robust balance sheet and assets of $91.3 million, the company is well-positioned to meet the growth and decarbonisation needs of Central Hawke’s Bay.

For more information, please contact [email protected]