PREPARING FOR TOMORROW'S NETWORK - Powerco

Page created by Kristen Delgado
 
CONTINUE READING
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW'S NETWORK - Powerco
PREPARING FOR
TOMORROW’S
NETWORK
SUMMARY ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN 2019

                                     POWERCO Asset Management Plan Summary | Welcome   A
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW'S NETWORK - Powerco
Welcome to our 2019 Summary Asset Management Plan (AMP).
This Summary AMP outlines the key points from Powerco’s full AMP and is
a companion to the full AMP. The AMP documents are intended to provide a
starting point for discussions with stakeholders and interested parties, and to
provide us with feedback on the vital service that Powerco provides.

The AMP is an important part of Powerco’s planning and investment framework.
It describes for our customers, stakeholders, employees and partners how we
will manage our electricity distribution network to deliver the standards of safety
and reliability of electricity supply that our customers demand. It also allows us
to engage with stakeholders on the network of the future and to test our thinking
and planning for how we deliver our customers’ future energy needs.

                                                                  POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   1
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW'S NETWORK - Powerco
01
EXECUTIVE                                                            INTRODUCING OUR 2019 ASSET                         OUR NETWORK COMMITMENT
                                                                     MANAGEMENT PLAN
SUMMARY                                                                                                                 Delivery of our five-year Customised
                                                                     Our core business is to ensure that                Price-quality Path (CPP) plan is now
                                                                     electricity is delivered to our customers          well under way
                                                                     safely, reliably and efficiently
                                                                                                                        The first four years covered under this AMP
                                                                     It is essential that we continue to invest in      focus strongly on how we plan to deliver to
                                                                     our assets to ensure they are in appropriate       our CPP targets during the remainder of the
                                                                     condition and of sufficient capacity to meet       regulatory period.
                                                                     the needs of our customers in the long term.
                                                                                                                        Working within our regulatory price constraints,
                                                                     We also recognise that society is facing           during the past decade we lifted investment
                                                                     an unprecedented challenge regarding a             by almost 60% in response to the ageing
                                                                     warming environment. Minimising carbon             of our asset fleets and economic growth
                                                                     emissions is a key priority for New Zealand        in our communities. However, even at this
                                                                     and, by implication, for our customers.            increased level, which exceeded our regulatory
                                                                                                                        allowance, there was mounting pressure for
                                                                     As a company, we are fully committed to
                                                                                                                        a further step change.
                                                                     helping New Zealand achieve its carbon
                                                                     reduction targets agreed to in terms of the        Sitting at the heart of our CPP application
                                                                     Paris Accord (2015), and the Government’s          was the analysis that indicated the significant
                                                                     associated target of a 100% renewable energy       challenges we had to address in the future.
                                                                     supply by 2035.1 We are committed to acting        These included increases in the number of
                                                                     in an environmentally responsible manner in        assets that were approaching end-of-life,
                                                                     all our investment decisions and operational       ongoing growth in the communities we serve,
                                                                     practices – as witnessed by our recent             and increased complexity associated with
                                                                     certification to the ISO 140012 standard           ensuring stable network operation in an
                                                                     and our high GRESB3 score.                         evolving energy environment.
                                                                     However, our impact on carbon reduction is         Under our CPP allowance, the Commerce
                                                                     insignificant compared with what we can help       Commission approved expenditure of $1.27
                                                                     our customers, including generators, achieve –     billion4 during the five-year period – an increase
                                                                     through our role enabling them to create,          of 38% on the previous five years.
                                                                     use and save energy as efficiently as possible.
                                                                                                                        Our key commitments for the future of our
                                                                     The key to supporting New Zealand’s carbon         electricity network, supported by the CPP
                                                                     reduction targets will be running our network      allowances and described in the AMP, are
                                                                     to open-access principles, offering maximum        summarised below.
                                                                     flexibility to customers with the opportunity to
                                                                     innovate, connect to, and transact over our        Ensuring safe and resilient networks
                                                                     network without impediment. While future           We remain committed to stabilising the
                                                                     energy market arrangements are still being         underlying condition and performance of our
                                                                     developed, we will ensure that the network         asset fleets. Our asset renewal, maintenance
                                                                     remains safe, operates stably and provides         and vegetation investment is intended to arrest
   Under normal hydrological conditions.
                                                                                                                        the trends we are seeing:
1.

   ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted standard that provides
2.                                                                  sufficient capacity under any reasonable
   the framework to put an effective environmental management
                                                                     energy use scenario.                               • In-service asset failures increasing over time
   system in place within an organisation.
   GRESB is an independent environmental, social and governance
3.                                                                                                                        for key asset fleets.
   benchmark for real assets, defining the global standard
4.
   Real 2016 dollars

2        POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW'S NETWORK - Powerco
• Increasing numbers of end-of-life, under-        We believe we will see increased application of
   performing assets remaining in service.          the new technology over time, as prices reduce,
• A
   poor, and deteriorating, reliability position   suitable applications emerge in New Zealand,
  versus our peers.                                 and the new technology becomes better
                                                    understood by our customers. At present, the         fully commited to
• P
   ockets of network performance well              most promising emerging technologies include:
  outside reasonably acceptable limits.
                                                    • Electric vehicles (EV)
• Increasing levels of defective assets and        • Photovoltaic cells (PV)
   vegetation encroachment.
                                                    • H
                                                       ome and network scale energy storage
Supporting growth in our communities                  solutions
Our regions have been experiencing sustained        • A
                                                       dvanced energy and demand management
population and economic growth in recent              solutions
years and, as a result, we have experienced         • T
                                                       he advent of community-based energy
strong demand growth across parts of our              trading schemes
networks. Some of the drivers for this growth
                                                    Such new solutions will bring benefits to
include the following:
                                                    our customers, but they will also increase
• B
   ay of Plenty – population growth and            complexity for distribution network operators.
  horticulture processing volumes.                  Issues such as local voltage fluctuations, two-
• W
   aikato – continued dairy intensification        way energy flows and increased load volatility
  and a shift to snap chilling.                     will need to be anticipated and addressed. It is
• T
   aranaki – population growth and dairy           important we act now to understand these new
  intensification.                                  technologies and ensure we can accommodate
• O
   ther regions – population growth and            them efficiently on our networks.
  changing land-use patterns.
Because of this growth, there are now many          IMPROVING ASSET MANAGEMENT
locations where we have no practical way of         CAPABILITY
rerouting supply in the event of a key asset
failing. The risk and associated cost of a          Our operating costs and network performance
failure has become unacceptably high for our        compare well but there is more to be done
customers. Focused action is necessary, as the
number of such scenarios on our networks is         ISO 55001
unacceptable.
                                                    We are committed to obtaining certification
Enabling our customers’ energy choices              to the ISO 55001 asset management
New technology offerings and increasing             standard by 2020. AMCL Ltd recently
customer eagerness to take control of their         conducted a gap assessment on our asset
energy options – and thereby reducing their         management approach against ISO 55001
own carbon footprint – are leading to a change      and the Global Forum on Maintenance & Asset
in the way energy markets operate. Distribution     Management (GFMAM) standards.
utilities play a key role in facilitating these     While we are assessed as ‘competent’ or ‘close
changes, while ensuring that basic delivery         to competent’ in most areas, there are some
standards continue to be met.                       areas where we are still classed as ‘developing’.

                                                                                                        POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   3
01. Executive summary

                                                 We are in the process of preparing an action           We have developed CBRM models for power
                                                 plan to address the gaps identified.                   transformer, circuit breaker, ring main unit and
                                                                                                        ground-mounted distribution transformer fleets,
                                                                                                        and are considering expanding our modelling to
                                                 DATA QUALITY
                                                                                                        include underground distribution cables.
                                                 We are committed to improving and
                                                                                                        CBRM modelling has also highlighted our need
                                                 expanding our asset data to support
                                                                                                        to improve asset data and is helping inform our
                                                 ongoing decision-making and asset
                                                                                                        data quality improvement plans.
                                                 management improvements. This will
                                                 require increased standardisation, expanded
                                                 inspections, improved information processing,
                                                                                                        LOOKING BEYOND CPP
                                                 and better auditing processes.
                                                                                                        Electricity distribution networks are built to
                                                 We are expanding the level of auditing we
                                                                                                        serve customers’ long-term interest
                                                 undertake in the field, as well as applying
                                                 analytical tools to highlight potential deficiencies   While there is much deliberation about changes
                                                 in data quality. We intend to work towards ‘one        in the energy environment, a large majority
                                                 source of truth’ across our business and our           of our customers continue to use centrally
                                                 service providers, with clear data ownership           generated electricity as their key energy source.
                                                 and responsibility allocations.                        We do not predict this changing significantly in
                                                                                                        the foreseeable future. Therefore, it would be
                                                                                                        imprudent to materially adjust investment
                                                 NEW FOUNDATIONS
                                                                                                        and asset management plans now for an
                                                 New Foundations is a programme of                      uncertain future.
                                                 improvements to our core enterprise systems,
                                                                                                        Accordingly, we will continue to keep a strong
                                                 as we move to an SAP environment. This is
                                                                                                        focus on the health, capacity and operation
                                                 a key initiative that will enable us to have the
                                                                                                        of our existing network, as well as expand the
                                                 right repositories and systems to transform
                                                                                                        network to meet the increased demand of new
                                                 asset data into insightful information. Our new
                                                                                                        – and often existing – customers.
                                                 enterprise resource planning system will
                                                 support our ability to efficiently collect, store      While we will continue to seek out the most
                                                 and analyse asset and network data when                efficient means of limiting expenditure on asset
                                                 commissioned at the start of FY20.                     renewal and reinforcement, including applying
                                                                                                        innovative new solutions wherever practical,
                                                 It is a vital component of our asset management
                                                                                                        we expect most of our network expenditure
                                                 capability enhancements and will have a
                                                                                                        will remain on conventional electricity network
                                                 significant impact on our ability to deliver our
                                                                                                        assets and practices.
                                                 CPP commitments.

                                                                                                        CATERING FOR THE CHANGING ENERGY
                                                 CONDITION-BASED RISK MANAGEMENT
                                                                                                        ENVIRONMENT
                                                 We have developed Condition-Based Risk
                                                                                                        3Ds – decarbonisation, digitisation and
                                                 Management (CBRM) models for many of
                                                                                                        decentralisation
                                                 our key fleets. It has allowed us to develop
                                                 improved asset renewal forecasts based                 The so-called 3Ds is an important emerging
                                                 on the assessment of asset condition and risk.         energy industry theme. These present

4   POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
significant challenges and uncertainties                     future market arrangements, we expect this
for our industry. Our evolving approach to                   transition to happen beyond our CPP period.
understanding and addressing this theme is
                                                             However, it is important to recognise that New
outlined in our network evolution roadmap in
                                                             Zealand will not be isolated from changing
Chapter [13] of our full AMP.
                                                             customer energy consumption patterns and
Particularly important within this AMP planning              associated emerging market arrangements, and
period, especially towards the latter years, is              nor would we want to be, as these changes will
our contribution to decarbonisation. We are                  reflect one of the most effective means we have
committed to operating in an environmentally                 to achieve our Paris Accord commitments
sustainable way.                                             and the Government’s low carbon target.
As our own energy use is relatively low, and                 Therefore, we see the near-term future as the
we generate very little electricity, we believe              ideal time to analyse, test and prepare for
we can make a much bigger contribution to                    the expected future changes to the energy
our society’s decarbonisation efforts through                environment. Further out in the AMP period
effectively planning and operating the electricity           we see the need to start significant investment
distribution network in an open-access                       to achieve the basics of the required open-
arrangement. Assisting customers and energy                  access network. This will initially focus on
providers to easily conduct energy transactions              additional monitoring and limited automation
over our network would encourage distributed                 on our network, particularly on the Low Voltage
and renewable generation.                                    (LV) side.
Additionally, effective demand management,
energy storage and tariff incentives will help
maximise the utilisation of existing energy                  10-YEAR EXPENDITURE FORECASTS
infrastructure and defer or minimise future                  Investment of approximately $278 million
investment. Electricity should also offset other,            per annum
less environmentally friendly, forms of energy,
                                                             The investments we propose will enable us to
and the network should facilitate this, for
                                                             address asset condition and security related
example electric vehicles offsetting the demand
                                                             issues. It will also help ensure we continue to
for petroleum.
                                                             meet our customers’ service expectations and
Realising these benefits requires us to operate              support the growth of the communities we
the network in an open-access manner, with                   serve.
minimal impediments for customers to connect
devices or transact on the network. Intense
                                                             CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
debates about the nature of such open-access
networks are under way around the world.                     Our planned capital investments for the
                                                             2019-2029 period reflect a targeted blend
Transitioning to an open-access network will
                                                             of investment across growth and security,
require considerable effort and investment,
                                                             asset renewal and non-network categories.
particularly in providing the required visibility,
                                                             Key highlights include the following:
controllability, flexibility and stability of all parts of
the network. Given the relatively low uptake of              • S
                                                                ustained investment in asset renewals
emerging grid edge technology in New Zealand,                  – post CPP expenditure is expected to
and the immaturity of the local discussion on                  stay at current CPP levels. We forecast a

                                                                                                               POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   5
01. Executive summary

                 constant level of expenditure is required to             resulting from increasing customer connection                          asset condition and network risks. Data
                 manage the health of our overhead fleets.                activity, and potential increase in the volumes                        and information management practices
                                                                          of Transpower-initiated outdoor-to-indoor                              will also be enhanced with our ERP
 • S
    ustained investment in growth and
                                                                          switchgear conversion works. Our expected                              implementation.
   security – network growth investment is
                                                                          capital investment during the planning period
   forecast to remain consistent with CPP                                                                                                     • A
                                                                                                                                                 sset management maturity – we are
                                                                          is set out below.
   levels. During the CPP our expenditure                                                                                                       proposing substantial improvements in
   predominantly focuses on improving                                                                                                           the way we practise asset management
   breaches in security of supply. Post CPP                               OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURE                                               to reflect industry good practice and to
   expenditure focuses more on improving                                  Our updated operational expenditure is                                realise improved efficiencies in the future.
   voltage support on the network. We will also                           in line with our previous CPP forecasts.                              To achieve this, we are bolstering our internal
   be investing in LV visibility improvements as                          Key highlights include the following:                                 capabilities and skills. As part of our asset
   we shift to an open-access network.                                                                                                          management improvements we intend to
                                                                          • A
                                                                             ddressing maintenance defects –
                                                                                                                                                achieve ISO 55001 certification by the end
 • R
    eduction of investment in core                                         the backlog of outstanding maintenance
                                                                                                                                                of 2020.
   systems and network technology –                                         defects had previously been growing at
   we forecast a reduction in IT investment                                 an accelerating rate. We have arrested                            • E
                                                                                                                                                 nhanced capacity – our project delivery
   as we complete implementation of a new                                   this increase and are now reducing the                              capacity is being increased in proportion
   ERP system early in the CPP period, and as                               size of the pool to appropriate levels                              to the uplift in construction and maintenance
   our core systems shift to the cloud. We will                             during the CPP period.                                              work proposed under the CPP. Allowance
   continue current levels of investment in our                                                                                                 is made for additional business support
                                                                          • Improved inspection techniques –
   network evolution plan to allow for testing                                                                                                  staff to assist with the increased business
                                                                             we have commenced our pole-top
   of new and innovative network and non-                                                                                                       complexity and demands anticipated with
                                                                             photography and Light Detection and
   network solutions.                                                                                                                           enhanced IS systems and increased work
                                                                             Ranging (LiDAR) trials for improved asset
                                                                                                                                                volumes.
 Expenditure during the CPP period of the                                    condition and vegetation inspection.
 planning window is largely consistent with our                              We are also continuing to implement new                          Our expected operational expenditure during
 CPP allowance – limited increases are foreseen                              techniques to better understand actual                           the planning period is set out below.

 Figure 1: Capital Expenditure                                                                         Figure 2: Operational Expenditure

                 250                                                                                                   120
$m (real 2019)

                                                                                                      $m (real 2019)

                                                                                                                       100
                 200

                                                                                                                        80
                 150
                                                                                                                        60
                 100
                                                                                                                        40

                 50
                                                                                                                        20

                  0                                                                                                      0
                         FY19    20     21     22    23     24      25   26   27    28    29                                 FY19   20   21     22    23    24    25     26    27    28    29

 6                     POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
Why an open-access network?                                             Limiting choice is bad for customers.
Our customers are increasingly concerned about the impact of their      Conventional network reinforcement is an expensive and, generally,
energy use on the environment. They are interested in how their         inefficient solution to short-term power fluctuations. Constraining
electricity is generated and how they can use it most efficiently.      customers in what or how much they can connect to the network
This local interest is reflected at a national level, with one of the   will greatly inhibit their ability to manage their use and reduce
Government’s key commitments being a goal of a carbon-neutral           their electricity carbon footprint – thereby foregoing one of the
electricity supply.                                                     more important levers New Zealand has to achieve its overall
                                                                        environmental targets.
In a fortunate convergence of improving technology and
cost-efficiency, our customers have:                                    Networks of tomorrow
• more choice and the power to exercise their values.                   In our view, the best way to achieve customers’ goals is by
•	
  an increasing ability to achieve significant reductions in their      operating an open-access distribution network. This will be
  energy use footprint.                                                 achieved by:
A key contributor is the ability to cost effectively generate on-       • applying suitable developing technology.
premise electricity, through renewable methods such as solar            • much improved visibility of power flows and utilisation.
panels or small wind generators.                                        • increased network automation.
This not only reduces electricity taken from the grid, but also holds   • improved data and analytics.
potential for exporting excess capacity to other nearby customers,
                                                                        Essentially this future network would allow customers to be largely
or allowing customers without their own generation to buy
                                                                        unconstrained in what they can connect to the network and how
renewably created electricity from local suppliers and communities.
                                                                        they would use it to support their energy transactions – purchasing
Other key factors are efficiency improvements in energy-hungry          and exporting electricity.
devices, and the ability to switch to renewable energy sources,
                                                                        Our role will be to ensure that networks have the capacity to cope
particularly related to transport and heating.
                                                                        with our customers’ evolving energy needs, while remaining safe,
The limits of today’s networks                                          stable and efficient.
The design of traditional electricity networks, however, limits the
extent to which renewable generation, or large variable loads,
can be accommodated.
Networks were designed for one-way power flows from large
generators to end customers, who used mainly passive appliances.
Connecting significant volumes of distributed generation, or large,
rapidly varying loads to a network not designed for it, can at times
cause serious power quality and network instability issues.
Without substantially changing the nature of distribution networks
and how they operate, the only mitigation options for electricity
distribution businesses (EDB) are to make major reinforcements
to the network or constrain customers in what they can connect
and how they can use the network.

                                                                                                       POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   7
02
EVOLVING OUR
NETWORKS FOR
THE FUTURE

8   POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
THE NEED TO CHANGE                                    stakeholders to create, use and save energy
                                                                                                                   as efficiently as possible.
                                                             The role of energy systems in decarbonising
                                                             the economy has been a strong focus                   We do not subscribe to the view that
                                                             across the world                                      distribution assets will mostly become
                                                                                                                   surplus to requirements
                                                             New Zealand has set ambitious targets and is
                                                             making quick progress to form a plan that will        Distribution networks provide a vital platform to
                                                             lead to a net zero-carbon economy by 2050.            support flexibility and innovation for customers’
                                                             As noted by the New Zealand Productivity              future energy use and meeting New Zealand’s
    1D                                                       Commission in last year’s Low-emissions               decarbonisation challenges.
                                                             economy report, […] steps will be needed              We see that the key to supporting New
   Digitisation                                              to manage growing complexity and risks to             Zealand’s carbon reduction targets, will be
   Digitalisation is the increase                            system and service providers’ stability, and to       running our network to open-access principles.
   in digitally enabled sensors,                             ensure a level playing field for different types of   This will offer maximum flexibility to customers
   data and analysis available                               technology.                                           (end users and generators) with the opportunity
   to customers, the market
   and asset owners                                          Our Network Evolution strategy reflects this          to innovate, connect to, and transact over
                                                             focus. It aims to enhance the value we offer to       our network without impediment. While future
                                                             our customers and, through this, to the wider         energy market arrangements are still being
                                                             New Zealand society, the environment, and             developed, we will ensure that the network
                                                             the economy. In particular, it recognises the         remains safe, operates stably and provides
                                                             challenges brought by the 3Ds of the energy           sufficient capacity under any reasonable
                                                             industry:                                             energy use scenario.
                                                             • D
                                                                ecarbonisation is the challenge to reduce         The way we design, build, and operate
                                                               CO2 emissions to fight climate change.              our network has to change
                                                             • D
                                                                ecentralisation is the shift from central         The pathway to change, however, remains filled
                                                               generation electricity to distributed devices       with uncertainty. The sector is being highlighted
                                                               that generate, store or consume electricity.        as prone to disruption, as technology becomes
                                                                                                                   cheaper, customers’ needs and expectations
                                                             • D
                                                                igitalisation is the increase in digitally
                                                                                                                   in terms of quality of service change, and
                                                               enabled sensors, data and analysis available
                                                                                                                   environmental pressure increases. Despite
                                                               to customers, the market and asset owners.
                                                                                                                   these changes, the large majority of our existing
                                                             We recognise that society is facing an                customers will continue to expect the same
                                                             unprecedented challenge regarding a                   conventional electricity supply they have now.
 2D                                  3D
                                                             warming environment                                   Therefore, we have to strike an effective balance
Decentralisation                    Decarbonisation          We are committed to being an                          between investing in conventional network
Decentralisation is the shift       Decarbonisation is the   environmentally responsible business,                 assets to maintain expected service, and
from central generation             challenge to reduce      which is also reflected in our investment             adapting to emerging technology and changing
electricity to distributed          CO2 emissions to fight   decisions and operational practices. But the          consumption patterns. We have to make long-
devices that generate, store        climate change                                                                 term decisions that are economically efficient
                                                             biggest contribution we, and other electricity
or consume electricity                                                                                             and in the best interests of our customers.
                                                             distributors, can make towards helping this
                                                             cause, is by enabling and supporting our

                                                                                                                       POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019      9
02. Evolving our networks for the future

                                                                           THE CHANGING ENERGY                                                                         DECARBONISATION
                                                                           ENVIRONMENT                                                                                 Decarbonisation is the challenge to reduce
          Decarbonisation                                                  After almost a century, the way electricity is
                                                                           delivered to customers is starting to change
                                                                                                                                                                       CO2 emissions to fight climate change

          is the challenge to                                                                                                                                          The New Zealand Productivity Commission’s
                                                                           In a legacy system, such as New Zealand’s, the                                              Low-emissions economy report details
                        reduce                                             flow of electricity has been almost exclusively                                             pathways for New Zealand to reduce its carbon
                                                                           from large generators, through transmission                                                 emissions, in line with the targets of the Paris
                                                                           and distribution networks, to end customers.                                                Accord. It highlights the electricity sector as one
                               emissions to fight                                                                                                                      of the main impacted sectors and an enabler
                                                                           New technology in generation and consumption
                       climate change                                      is challenging the model of networks configured
                                                                                                                                                                       to allow more carbon-intensive sectors to
                                                                                                                                                                       decarbonise, e.g. substituting petrol cars with
                                                                           to meet peak demand, offering a one-size-fits all
                                                                                                                                                                       electric vehicles.
                                                                           approach to passive or disengaged customers.
                                                                           This has led to more stress on the network                                                  Most electricity distribution utilities do not
                                                                           during peak hours. We are starting to see signs                                             generate significant electricity and are not
                                                                           of this on our network. Figure 3 demonstrates                                               themselves large electricity users. Therefore, our
                                                                           that although the overall electricity consumption                                           main role is to encourage and accommodate
                                                                           for each customer has not changed materially,                                               carbon reduction initiatives by offering end-
                                                                           peak electricity demand has been steadily                                                   users and generators the technical solutions
                                                                           growing during the past decade9.                                                            and services that this policy decision requires.

                                                                           9.
                                                                                         nnual compound growth in the average consumption per Installation Control Point (ICP, all categories) since FY11 has been 1.2%, while the coincident
                                                                                        A
                                                                                        network peak demand during the same period has grown by 1.9% per year.

Figure 3: Average electricity consumption                                                            130
                                                                         Growth index (2009 = 100)

and demand on our network
                                                                                                     120                                                                                                  Maximum demand

                                                                                                     110

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Energy per ICP
                                                                                                     100

                                                                                                      90

Note: The figures are based on electricity drawn from grid exit points
(GXPs) and do not include the impact of distributed generation.                                       80
The 2019 consumption is a projection of expected consumption.                                          2009   2010   2011    2012      2013      2014      2015      2016      2017      2018      2019

10       POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
DECENTRALISATION                                                                        DIGITALISATION
Decentralisation is the shift from central                                              Digitalisation is the increase in digitally
generation electricity to distributed devices
that generate, store or consume electricity
                                                                                        enabled sensors, data and analysis available
                                                                                        to customers, the market and asset owners
                                                                                                                                                                     Decentralisation
                                                                                                                                                                     shifting from
Customers expect the ability to offset their                                            Digitalisation will help our stakeholders to
own electricity consumption or to sell surplus                                          understand and manage their energy demand
electricity, while maintaining a connection to our                                      profiles, and also allow them to conduct energy
network to cover the times that their devices                                           transactions over our network.
cannot generate, for example at night.                                                  The cost of data capture, storage and
This requires us to maintain electricity                                                communication continues to decrease.
                                                                                                                                                                           generate, store or
connections at full capacity, even if average                                           Low-cost sensors and communication                                               consume electricity
consumption levels reduce. It will require us                                           mediums, eg Long Range Wide Area Network
to consider alternative pricing structures in                                           (LoRaWAN), are becoming mainstream. With
future, particularly if we are to avoid charging                                        it, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other
other customers more as a result.                                                       capabilities have become more prominent as
                                                                                        computing processing power increases.
Concentrated clusters of new distribution
edge devices10, such as solar photovoltaic (PV)                                         For asset managers, this trend offers major
generators or electric vehicles, can also cause                                         opportunities to efficiently increase visibility
voltage stability or other power quality issues.                                        of network condition, utilisation and operational
Older networks, in particular, which were not                                           conditions. It will allow us to enhance our
designed for potential two-way power-flows                                              service offering, improve network utilisation
or rapidly changing, high-peak demands, will                                            and reduce potential instability issues that
need intervention, otherwise we will have to limit                                      could arise from connecting edge devices.
the connection of such devices. This would be                                           This all would contribute to more efficient
a last resort and an undesirable situation, as                                          and stable network utilisation and support
we would not only inhibit customer flexibility,                                         cost effective delivery.
but we would also run counter to achieving
carbon reduction targets.                                                                                                                                                       Digitalisation

10.
       istribution edge devices are new types of end-customer loads connected to the distribution network that were not traditionally prevalent and have
      D
      characteristics that can cause power signal distortion in different ways to traditional, mainly resistive, customer loads. It includes local generation,
      particularly PV, electric vehicles, energy storage devices, and the like.

                                                                                                                                                                 POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   11
02. Evolving our networks for the future

 OBSERVATIONS OF THE NETWORK                                                       • L
                                                                                      ocal generation – significant                                         of excess power generated) to customers.
                                                                                     improvements in efficiency, along with                                  Regardless of the initial driver, the scale of
 While we know that around the world there
                                                                                     major reductions in cost, are making it                                 uptake has supported large-scale manufacture
 are many examples of how the 3Ds are
                                                                                     economically and technically viable to bring                            and resulted in reduced costs.
 fundamentally changing the industry, the
                                                                                     electricity generation closer to the source of
 speed of the change in New Zealand is                                                                                                                       By contrast, the uptake of PV in New
                                                                                     consumption.
 still uncertain. In the section below we                                                                                                                    Zealand, while growing substantially on an
 explore our observations and their practical                                      We believe this trend will remain true for the next                       annual basis, is still at a much lower level.
 implications for our network, starting with                                       two to three years and that our network will be                           The Electricity Authority reported that from
 high-level consumption trends, and distribution                                   able to accommodate these changes in the short                            2016 to 2018 New Zealand had an increase in
 edge devices.                                                                     term. However, in the longer term, network                                capacity of 32%.
                                                                                   stability and capacity could be at risk.
                                                                                                                                                             PV uptake on our network is small – with total
 CONSUMPTION TRENDS                                                                                                                                          PV connection just 1.1% of our ICPs. Recent
                                                                                   SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATION                                             trends on our network are shown in Figure 4
 As described before, while peak demand is still
                                                                                                                                                             and Figure 5.11
 increasing slowly, the average consumption per                                    The uptake of PV follows the sun – our
 Installation Control Point (ICP) remains relatively                               network is not always sunny                                               International literature suggests that when PV
 consistent. This is mainly because of:                                                                                                                      penetration reaches about 10% on a network,
                                                                                   Residential PV generation is growing rapidly
                                                                                                                                                             issues associated with the variability of its
 •	
   Energy efficiency – modern household                                            across the world. Uptake rates between
                                                                                                                                                             output could become material, requiring some
                                                                                   countries vary, but have been particularly
   appliances are becoming more energy efficient                                                                                                             form of network investment.12 At current
                                                                                   pronounced in Germany, parts of Australia,
   and improved building efficiency standards                                                                                                                growth rates, this still appears to be some
                                                                                   the United Kingdom, Denmark and some
   also contribute to lower energy use.                                                                                                                      distance off on our network.
                                                                                   US states, such as California. This has
 • E
    nergy awareness – customers                                                   broadly been in direct response to government
                                                                                                                                                             11.
                                                                                                                                                                Electricity Authority, www.emi.ea.govt.nz.
   are increasingly aware of their energy                                          mandates to achieve low carbon emission                                     This relates to issues such as excessive voltage rise at periods of low
                                                                                                                                                             12.

   consumption and many are taking active                                          targets, encouraged by way of subsidies,                                      load, and voltage fluctuations with potential to create network instability.
                                                                                                                                                                 The impact could be reduced if modern inverters allowing volt/VAR
   steps to reduce it.                                                             tax incentives or feed-in tariffs (buy-back                                   correction, or energy storage devices are in wide use.

 Figure 4: PV uptake on our network (percentage of ICPs)                                                         Figure 5: PV uptake on our network (number of ICPs)

                     2.5                                                                                                         1,500
Percentage of ICPs

                                                                                                                Number of ICPs

                                                                                               Wairarapa                         1,250                                                                                          Tauranga
                     2.0

                                                                                                                                 1,000
                     1.5                                                                       Tauranga

                                                                                                                                  750                                                                                           Thames Valley
                     1.0                                                                                                                                                                                                        Wairarapa
                                                                                                                                  500                                                                                           Manawatu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Taranaki

                     0.5                                                                                                                                                                                                        Whanganui
                                                                                                                                  250

                     0.0                                                                                                            0
                               Jan   Jul    Jan   Jul    Jan   Jul    Jan   Jul    Jan   Jul                                              Jan   Jul    Jan         Jul    Jan     Jul      Jan      Jul     Jan      Jul
                              2014         2015         2016         2017         2018                                                   2014         2015               2016             2017             2018

 12                        POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
ELECTRIC VEHICLES                                             The study suggested that this increase in
                                                              demand can be mitigated by the introduction
                                                                                                                                                    EVs
EVs will change the network – but not in the
short term                                                    of smart charging. Figure 7 shows how smart                                           will change
                                                              EV charging can influence the demand profile.
The use of EVs (full electric or plug-in hybrid)
is still in its relative infancy in New Zealand,              EV uptake and demand response capability
with a total of 11,000 vehicles registered at                 at a household level is hard to assess as
the end of 2018. With its high proportion of                  customers are not currently required to
renewable electricity generation, New Zealand                 notify the network operator when they have
is well placed to achieve major carbon                        purchased an EV or installed non-significant
emissions reductions from switching its                       chargers, i.e. those that do not require a change
vehicle fleet from conventional fuel to electricity.          in their electricity supply. This lack of visibility
                                                              has an impact on the efficacy of network
As the government incentivises and promotes                   investment and reinforcement to accommodate
their use and penetration numbers can rise,                   the capacity and quality challenges introduced
the potential for localised power quality issues              through EV charging. We are working with
also increases within the low voltage network.                wider industry groups to both address the
To facilitate EV charging, particularly at peak               lack of visibility and to improve our ability
demand times and with fast chargers, could                    to monitor and predict EV uptake increases.
require substantial network reinforcement.
In 2018, we commissioned a study in
collaboration with Unison and Orion to model
the impact of EV charging on residential ICP
demand13. It showed that, without any form of
control, the demand could increase significantly,             13.
                                                                     or example, Electric Vehicles in New Zealand: From Passenger to
                                                                    F
                                                                    Driver, published by Dr Allan Miller and Scott Lemon, EPECentre,
as shown in Figure 6.                                               University of Canterbury.

Figure 6: Impact of EV charging on an average household                                                     Figure 7: Impact of smart EV charging on an average household
demand profile                                                                                              demand profile

     2.5                                                                                                         2.5
kW

                                                                                                           kW

     2.0                                                                              Plus passive              2.0                                                                               lus passive
                                                                                                                                                                                                  P
                                                                                      EV charging                                                                                                 EV charging
                                                                                      Pre-EV                                                                                                      re-EV
                                                                                                                                                                                                  P
     1.5                                                                              demand                     1.5                                                                              demand

     1.0                                                                                                         1.0

     0.5                                                                                                         0.5

     0.0                                                                                                         0.0
           00.00
           03.00
           06.00
           09.00
           12.00
           15.00
           18.00
           21.00
           00.00
           03.00
           06.00
           09.00
           12.00
           15.00
           18.00
           21.00
           00.00
           03.00
           06.00
           09.00
           12.00
           15.00
           18.00
           21.00
           00.00
           03.00
           06.00
           09.00
           12.00
           15.00
           18.00
           21.00

                                                                                                                       00.00
                                                                                                                       03.00
                                                                                                                       06.00
                                                                                                                       09.00
                                                                                                                       12.00
                                                                                                                       15.00
                                                                                                                       18.00
                                                                                                                       21.00
                                                                                                                       00.00
                                                                                                                       03.00
                                                                                                                       06.00
                                                                                                                       09.00
                                                                                                                       12.00
                                                                                                                       15.00
                                                                                                                       18.00
                                                                                                                       21.00
                                                                                                                       00.00
                                                                                                                       03.00
                                                                                                                       06.00
                                                                                                                       09.00
                                                                                                                       12.00
                                                                                                                       15.00
                                                                                                                       18.00
                                                                                                                       21.00
                                                                                                                       00.00
                                                                                                                       03.00
                                                                                                                       06.00
                                                                                                                       09.00
                                                                                                                       12.00
                                                                                                                       15.00
                                                                                                                       18.00
                                                                                                                       21.00

            Weekday            Weekend     Weekday            Weekend                                                        Weekday             Weekend        Weekday            Weekend
                      Summer                         Winter                                                                             Summer                            Winter

                                                                                                                                                     POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019           13
02. Evolving our networks for the future

ENERGY STORAGE                                         DEMAND MANAGEMENT                                                              DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
Energy storage will be an enabler for the              New Zealand is been a world leader in                                          OF THE FUTURE
New Energy Future                                      demand management                                                              The future nature of electricity distribution
                                                       For years, New Zealand has been using water                                    networks is being widely debated around
The main focus of energy storage is use for
                                                       heaters as controllable load. Considerable                                     the world. We subscribe to the New
battery storage capacity, which is increasing
                                                       debate is under way on whether these load                                      Zealand-specific Network Transformation
at a significant rate – mainly in utility scale
                                                       control systems should be maintained,                                          Roadmap developed by the Electricity
applications. There are many other forms of
                                                       expanded, or replaced with newer technology.                                   Network Association (ENA)14. It is backed up
storage such as compressed air storage and
                                                       Hot water control systems continue to play an                                  by international research in similar jurisdictions,
pumped water storage and various forms of
                                                       important part in managing peak demand on                                      particularly Australia and the United Kingdom.
heat storage are also receiving attention, but
generally for large scale applications only.           our network and avoiding transmission peak                                     As described in the ENA’s study, we recognise
                                                       charging to our customers.                                                     that the network of the future will be influenced
Residential scale applications are expanding
                                                       With improving communications systems                                          by two main factors:
rapidly, but the overall storage capacity
associated with these is still relatively small.       and more intelligent home devices, new                                         •	
                                                                                                                                        Customer behaviour – how engaged are
Other than the installation cost, uptake rates         opportunities are opening up for demand                                          customers with their energy supply?
for domestic storage systems are also very             management on the customer side of the
                                                                                                                                      •	
                                                                                                                                        Technology – how much renewable
sensitive to factors such as (the absence of)          electricity meter. While it is not our intent to
                                                                                                                                        electricity, and associated edge devices,
feed-in tariffs, subsidies, the cost of electricity,   become involved in customer products, such
                                                                                                                                        is connected to the grid?
and the reliability of supply.                         as home area networks, we will continue to
                                                       pursue demand management solutions where                                       Using this dichotomy, four scenarios were
Although the cost of battery storage systems           these offer economic alternatives to network                                   created and are summarised in Figure 8.
has reduced substantially in recent years and is       reinforcement.                                                                 14.
                                                                                                                                             ource: ENA, “Network Transformation Roadmap”,
                                                                                                                                            S
anticipated to decline further in the foreseeable                                                                                           https://www.ena.org.nz/dmsdocument/403, 2018

future, for the vast majority of individual
customers it is still significantly more expensive
than conventional grid-supplied electricity (by
comparable capacity).
                                                       Figure 8: Network transformation scenarios adapted from ENA with evolution pathways
In some instances, mainly in remote rural
areas, the installation of combined generation
                                                                                               Passive           Consumer Behaviour: I care about my energy supply                            Active
and battery storage units is economically
feasible and uptake rates in these cases may
accelerate. It is also noted that the combination           High
of effective storage and local, mainly PV,
                                                              Grid Supplied Renewable Energy

generation offers customers a significant                                                                Rise
                                                                                                            Set
                                                                                                              of and
                                                                                                                 the Prosumer
                                                                                                                     Forget                              Rise of the Prosumer
degree of flexibility in how they procure and use                                                        Open
                                                                                                          Intelligent
                                                                                                               accessnetwork
                                                                                                                      network                            Open access network
electricity, which in some cases may override
decisions based on economic factors alone.
In the longer term, our view is that energy
storage systems, both at utility and
residential scale, will have a valuable role                                                                 Backup Grid                                    Leaving the grid
in the provision and use of electricity.                                                                  Traditional network                               Shrinking network

                                                            Low

14     POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
These purposely extreme scenarios are
intended to provide clarity in thinking and
                                                                                           While the network relies on physical assets
                                                                                           to convey electricity from bulk electricity
                                                                                                                                                       Intelligent
assessment. It is unlikely that any of these will
arise by themselves. A more feasible outcome,
                                                                                           supply points to customers and the majority
                                                                                           of customers remain passive, there are some
                                                                                                                                                         networks
however, will be a mix of customer outcomes,                                               differences from the traditional network:
                                                                                                                                                        will suit the
possibly leaning more in one direction. To
respond to these scenarios, we have devised
                                                                                           •	
                                                                                             Distributors still do not participate in energy                ‘Set & Forget’
four possible evolution pathways that can meet
                                                                                             markets, but are compensated for the                                    scenario
                                                                                             reliability of service and for energy efficiency
each of the challenges and requirements.
                                                                                             improvements15.
                                                                                           •	
                                                                                             Intelligent devices are widespread
TRADITIONAL NETWORK                                                                          throughout the network. These allow visibility
This is largely the distribution network that                                                of power flows, asset loading, and asset and
we are accustomed to. It has the following                                                   network performance. They also provide
characteristics:                                                                             control of devices, which in turn allows much
•	
  Physical assets convey electricity from bulk                                               greater network automation.
  electricity supply points to customers.                                                  •	
                                                                                             Networks can be reconfigured in real-time to
•	
  Passive customers                                                                          respond to demand patterns, or operational
                                                                                             events.
•	
  Distributors do not participate in energy
  markets and are compensated only for the                                                 •	
                                                                                             It is possible to safely increase network
  assets they provide and operate                                                            utilisation to much higher levels and
                                                                                             automation allows network reconfiguration
•	
  Networks and their components are largely
                                                                                             after faults, or self-healing networks, that can
  passive
                                                                                             provide substantial reliability improvements
•	
  Substantial degree of redundancy built in
                                                                                           Intelligent networks will suit the ‘Set and
•	
  Assets are sized for peak demand                                                         Forget’ scenario.
•	
  Large localised concentrations of EV and PV
  can compromise stability                                                                 OPEN-ACCESS NETWORK
Traditional networks suit the “Backup Grid”                                                This next stage expands on the capabilities
scenario.                                                                                  of the Intelligent Network to allow widespread
                                                                                           local generation sources, with associated two-
INTELLIGENT NETWORK                                                                        way power flows. It also ensures open-access
                                                                                           arrangements for customers to allow them to
This is the often-touted ‘smart grid’, which is
                                                                                           transact over the network and to connect any
based on the traditional network with extended
                                                                                           device they wish within acceptable safety and
capabilities for monitoring, measurement,
                                                                                           reliability limits.
control and automation – and the associated
communications network and information                                                     It still relies on physical assets to convey
systems to support this. There is also a shift from                                        electricity from bulk electricity supply points to
centralised to de-centralised control, relying more                                        the customers, as well as from customer to
on the local ‘intelligence’ of modern devices.                                             customer, or customer to bulk supply point.

15.
      This is to ensure that incentives exist to find optimally efficient solutions, rather than stick to traditional network investment solutions.

                                                                                                                                                        POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   15
02. Evolving our networks for the future

                                                  •	
                                                    Customers are actively involved in energy         SHRINKING NETWORK
                                                    acquisition, generation, and consumption          The shrinking network describes the situation
                                                    management                                        where it may make sense for a customer’s
                                                  •	
                                                    Opportunity for multiple sources of               primary electricity supply to be derived from
                                                    distributed generation devices, and other         sources other than the grid – mass defection
                                                    customer side devices.                            will then occur. The level of investment on the
NZ’s networks                                     •	
                                                    Distributor is not involved in transactions
                                                                                                      associated network would drop to a minimum
will change,                                        across the network
                                                                                                      as it would be economically impossible to
                                                                                                      maintain anything other than an adequate
but when and how                                  •	
                                                    Network provides the functionality to             level of safety and meet our minimum legal
are uncertain                                       maintain stability, quality and protection        obligations.
                                                    under a range of operating scenarios,
                                                                                                      There are few existing larger scale examples
                                                    including the use of large-scale energy
                                                                                                      of this scenario around the world, and none
                                                    storage
                                                                                                      we are aware of in New Zealand. However, it is
                                                  •	
                                                    Revenue earned through electricity                potentially possible when individual households,
                                                    conveyance, and other network services –          local communities and industries build their own
                                                    reflecting for example, the cost to connect       power generation and energy storage facilities,
                                                    distributed generation, maintain stability, and   particularly where they are somewhat isolated
                                                    provide flexible open-access functionality        from the grid.
                                                  •	
                                                    Distributors transact with customers for          We also facilitate decommissioning of long rural
                                                    value that customers can add to the               feeders supplying isolated loads through use
                                                    operation of the network – for example            of its Base Power alternative, albeit only for
                                                    for demand management capability, and             individual or very small groups of customers.
                                                    electricity buy-back                              This benefits both us and the customer.
                                                  •	
                                                    Network investments and asset sizing will         The shrinking network scenario aligns with
                                                    reflect evolving electricity demand patterns      the “Leaving the Grid” scenario.
                                                  •	
                                                    Customer pricing evolves to reflect a far
                                                    larger degree of individualisation than in
                                                    the past
                                                  •	
                                                    Customers can connect their EV and PV
                                                    and maximise their utilisation
                                                  Open-access networks will suit the “Rise
                                                  of the Prosumer” scenario.

16   POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
Map of the Summary AMP

                                      1                                        2                                            3                                                  4

 Executive                                 Evolving our networks                    Our network                                         Our customers
 summary                                   for the future
                                                                                     ur Place in the
                                                                                    O                                                   Customer Service
 Introducing our 2019                     The Need to Change............9          Electricity Sector.................18               Priorities.............................23
  Asset Management Plan.......2
                                           The Changing Energy                      Eastern Region...................20                 How Customer Feedback
 Our Network                               Environment.......................10                                                         Influences our Strategy.......25
                                                                                    Western Region..................20
 Commitment........................2
                                           Observations of the                      Network Assets..................21
 Improving Asset                          Network.............................12
  Management Capability........3
                                           Distribution Networks
 Looking Beyond CPP...........4            of the Future.......................14
 10-year Expenditure
 Forecasts.............................5

                                      5                                        6                                            7                                                  8

 Asset Management                          Maintaining the                          Designing for a                                     Expenditure
 Strategy                                  existing network                         growing network                                     forecasts

 Network Targets.................27        How we forecast                          Investment Triggers............32                   Capital Expenditure............34
 Asset Management                          for Renewals......................30     Network Security                                    Operating Expenditure........35
 Improvements....................28        Network Opex Planning......31            Criteria................................32

                                                                                    Planned projects of significance across our network

                                                                                    Coromandel / Waikino........38                   Kinleith / Waikato................42
                                                                                    Tauranga............................39           Manawatu / Tararua............43
                                                                                    Egmont / Taranaki..............40                Wairarapa...........................44
                                                                                    Whanganui / Rangitikei.......41

                                                                                                                           POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019               17
03
OUR NETWORK                                                                 OUR PLACE IN THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR
                                                                            In terms of both supply area and network length, our network is the largest of any single distributor
                                                                            in New Zealand.
                                                                            Our place in New Zealand’s electricity sector is illustrated below.

                                                                            Figure 9: Our place in the electricity sector

                                                                                            GENERATION                TRANSMISSION                  DISTRIBUTION                          RETAIL
                                                                                                                        (national grid)

                                                                                      Electricity is generated   This electricity is          Electricity is distributed to     Retailers buy electricity
                                                                                      across New Zealand         transported from             homes and businesses via          from generators and
                                                                                      using water (hydro),       generators to distribution   distribution networks.            sell it to homes and
                                                                                      wind, geothermal, gas      networks using the                                             businesses.
                                                                                      and coal stations.16       national grid, owned and     Powerco is one of 29
                                                                                                                 operated by Transpower.      distribution companies.

                                                                            REGIONAL NETWORKS
                                                                            Our network includes two separate regions; Eastern and Western. Both networks contain a range
                                                                            of urban and rural areas, although both are predominantly rural.
                                                                            Table 1 provides summary statistics relating to our assets in the Eastern and Western regions.
                                                                            Figure 10 provides a geographical overlay of these regions.

                                                                            Table 1: Asset population summary (2018)

                                                                            MEASURE                                                            EASTERN                   WESTERN                      COMBINED

                                                                            Customer connections                                                159,680                       179,134                       338,814

                                                                            Overhead circuit network length (km)                                   7,177                       14,560                        21,737

                                                                            Underground circuit network length (km)                                3,318                        2,955                         6,273

                                                                            Zone substations                                                           51                          69                          120

                                                                            Peak demand (MW)                                                         466                          433                          897

                                                                            Energy throughput (GWh)                                                2,701                        2,398                         5,099
    Distributed generation is a growing trend but still only a very small
16. 

    proportion of total generation.

18         POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
Figure 10: The regions we cover

                                  POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   19
03. Our network

                                                  EASTERN REGION                                    WESTERN REGION
                                                  The Eastern region consists of two zones          The Western region comprises four
                                                  – Valley and Tauranga – which have differing      network zones. Similar to the Eastern region,
                                                  geographical and economic characteristics         these zones have differing geographical and
                                                  presenting diverse asset management               economic characteristics, presenting various
                                                  challenges.                                       asset management challenges. Because
                                                                                                    of the age of the network and, in particular,
                                                  For planning and pricing purposes we divide
                                                                                                    the declining asset health of overhead lines,
                                                  this region into two zones:
                                                                                                    extensive asset renewal is required in this
                                                  • V
                                                     alley includes a diverse range of terrains    region. This renewal is about double the cost
                                                    from the rugged and steep forested coastal      compared with what is required in the Eastern
                                                    peninsula of Coromandel to the plains and       region on an annual basis.
                                                    rolling country of eastern and southern
                                                                                                    • T
                                                                                                       aranaki, which is situated on the west
                                                    Waikato. Economic activity in these areas
                                                                                                      coast plains, is exposed to high winds and
                                                    is dominated by tourism and farming
                                                                                                      rain. The area has significant agricultural
                                                    respectively.
                                                                                                      activity, oil and gas exploration and
                                                  	From a planning perspective, this region          production, and some heavy industry.
                                                    presents significant challenges in terms
                                                                                                    • W
                                                                                                       hanganui includes the surrounding
                                                    of maintaining reliability on feeders
                                                                                                      Rangitikei and is a rural area exposed
                                                    supplying sparsely populated areas in what
                                                                                                      to westerly sea winds on the coast and
                                                    is often remote, difficult-to-access terrain.
                                                                                                      snow storms in high country areas. It is
                                                  	Investment priorities have focused on             predominantly agriculture based with some
                                                    improving network security and resilience,        industry.
                                                    and developing better remote control and
                                                                                                    • P
                                                                                                       almerston includes rural plains and
                                                    monitoring facilities.
                                                                                                      high country areas exposed to prevailing
                                                  • T
                                                     auranga is a rapidly developing coastal         westerly winds. It is mainly agricultural with
                                                    region, with horticultural industries, a port     logistical industries, and has a university, with
                                                    and a large regional centre at Tauranga.          associated research facilities, in the large
                                                  	The principal investment activities in            regional centre of Palmerston North.
                                                    this region have been associated with           • W
                                                                                                       airarapa is more sheltered and is
                                                    accommodating the rapid urban growth              predominantly plains and hill country. It has
                                                    in Tauranga, maintaining safe and reliable        a mixture of agricultural, horticultural and
                                                    supplies to the port, and supplying new           viticulture industries.
                                                    businesses.
                                                                                                    The four Western region zones are discussed
                                                  The Valley and Tauranga zones are discussed in    in more detail in Chapter 3.4 of the full AMP.
                                                  more detail in Chapter 3.3 of the full AMP.

20   POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
NETWORK ASSETS
We have categorised our electricity assets         • Zone substations
into 25 fleets. We use the term ‘asset fleet’ to   • Distribution transformers
describe a group of assets that share technical
                                                   • Distribution switchgear
characteristics and investment drivers. We group
                                                   • Secondary systems
the 25 asset fleets into seven portfolios, as
set out below.                                     The large number of assets in certain fleets,
• Overhead structures                             eg poles, gives an indication of the scale of
                                                   our network and the work we undertake on it.
• Overhead conductor
• Underground cables

Table 2: Asset population summary (2018)

 ASSET TYPE                                                                             POPULATION

 Overhead structures

 Poles                                                                                     264,146

 Crossarms                                                                                 424,505
 Overhead conductor

 Subtransmission (km)                                                                        1,507

 Distribution (km)                                                                          14,804

 LV (km)                                                                                     5,110
 Underground cables

 Subtransmission (km)                                                                          169
                                                                                                     The large number of

                                                                                                     assets
 Distribution (km)                                                                           2,051

 LV (km)                                                                                     4,456
 Zone substations

 Power transformers                                                                            191                   gives an indication
 Indoor switchboards                                                                           121
                                                                                                                     of the scale of

 Buildings                                                                                     160                   our network
 Distribution assets

 Transformers                                                                               35,245

 Switchgear                                                                                 41,927
 Secondary systems

 Zone substation protection relays                                                           1,782

 Remote terminal units                                                                         297

                                                                                                     POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   21
04
OUR CUSTOMERS                                     The expectations of our customers guide                   During the past three years, growth across all
                                                  our investment and network delivery                       of our customer segments has exceeded our
                                                                                                            forecasts. We have had to refine our forecast
                                                  We are proud to serve more than 335,000
                                                                                                            load estimates and increase network capacity.
                                                  diverse groups of households, businesses and
                                                                                                            Our customer connection teams and processes
                                                  communities. Our customer base includes:
                                                                                                            have been bolstered to ensure we meet this
                                                  •	
                                                    23 electricity retailers who operate on our             growing need and continue to provide good
                                                    network trading as 32 brands                            customer service.
                                                  • 337,137 homes and businesses comprising:
                                                     –	
                                                       Residential consumers and small                      EMBEDDED GENERATORS
                                                       businesses – ‘mass market’                           We provide direct network connections
                                                     –	
                                                       Medium-size commercial businesses                    for a number of embedded generators
                                                     –	
                                                       Large commercial or industrial businesses            Sixteen of these have export capacity over
                                                  •	
                                                    21 directly contracted industrial businesses,           1MW, while a further four are classed as
                                                    including large distributed generators                  industrial cogeneration, where generated
                                                                                                            power is wholly or partly consumed on-site.
                                                  •	
                                                    19 local territorial authorities and the New
                                                    Zealand Transport Agency                                In addition, there are approximately 2,900
                                                                                                            distributed generation installations of less than
                                                  The table below sets out the proportions of our
                                                                                                            1MW capacity connected to our network.
                                                  customer base and contrasts with the volume of
                                                                                                            The combined capacity of these smaller
                                                  electricity they use – this illustrates the significant
                                                                                                            generators is just over 14MW. Of these,
                                                  electricity consumption of our larger customers.
                                                                                                            nearly all are domestic photovoltaic (PV) panel
                                                  Our customers are distributed relatively                  installations of less than 10kW capacity.
                                                  evenly across our network regions
                                                                                                            The uptake rate of small scale distributed
                        across all                The largest regional concentrations are in the            generation (SSDG) on our network has risen
                                                  Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Manawatu, each                from about 10 to 70 installations per month in
                                                  having a large urban centre – Tauranga, New               the past four years as prices of PV and inverter
                                                  Plymouth and Palmerston North respectively.               technologies has dropped.

                                                  Table 3: Number of customers (ICPs) and electricity delivered

                                                  CUSTOMER TYPE                                  ICPS             % OF         ELECTRICITY          % OF TOTAL
                                                                                                                 TOTAL          DELIVERED          ELECTRICITY
                                                                                                                  ICPS               (GWH)          DELIVERED

                                                  Mass market                                 335,094              99.4              2,640                 54.5

                                                  Commercial                                    1,419               0.4                252                  5.2

                                                  Large commercial / industrial                   624               0.2              1,955                 40.3

                                                  Total                                       337,137             100%               4,847               100%

22   POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019
We have a policy to support and facilitate               deliver a simple and effective energy supply
the appropriate development of distributed               for customers is a key part of what we do.
generation, while ensuring appropriate control
given the potential local impacts on network
                                                         OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
operation.
                                                         We provide network services to a range of
                                                         other stakeholders. Amongst a range of other
ELECTRICITY RETAILERS
                                                         stakeholders we work with:
We operate an interposed model
                                                         •	
                                                           the New Zealand Transport Agency and
That means retailers purchase our services,                territorial local authorities that require us to
bundle them with energy supply and the cost                move our lines or cables for roading projects,
of accessing the transmission grid, and provide
                                                         •	
                                                           House relocation companies requiring us to
a bundled price for delivered energy to their
                                                           switch off our lines during their operations,
customers. We have agreements with 23
retailers used by our customers.                         •	
                                                           Developers requiring connection services to
                                                           housing developments.
Given the importance we place on our
relationship with electricity retailers, we have a
dedicated relationship management team that
                                                         CUSTOMER SERVICE PRIORITIES
focuses on providing them with a high level
of commercial and operational support. This              We use a variety of means to engage with our
helps them provide a quality bundled service to          customers and capture their feedback. What
customers and seamlessly resolve any supply              customers tell us they value can be captured
issues on their behalf. Working with retailers to        four key service dimensions below.

                Reliability of Supply                                    Responsiveness

                                                     Value

                                                                      Customer Service and
                Cost Effectiveness                                     Information Quality

                                                                                                              POWERCO Summary Asset Management Plan 2019   23
You can also read