Business View Oceania | March 2020

75 76 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA MARCH 2020 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA MARCH 2020 NEW ZEALAND LIMITED Poles, wires and wind M ainPower New Zealand Limited has been a vital piece of everyday life in the North Canterbury region for nearly 100 years. While they operate pretty much behind the scenes, consumer-owned MainPower is consistently delivering a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity. Essentially, they look after the ‘poles and wires’ that supply line services to the region’s farms, homes, businesses, schools and community organisations – over 39,000 customers in all. MainPower began in 1928 as the North Canterbury Electric Power Board and is now owned by the MainPower Trust on behalf of consumers within the community. Day-to-day management of MainPower’s distribution system is in the hands of highly professional, qualified personnel. The MainPower team utilise the latest technology to supply electricity distribution network design, maintenance and customer- driven electricity services throughout the North Canterbury area. Recently, an exciting project has been undertaken that will have enormous benefits for everyone involved. In Dec. 2019, MainPower started pre-construction site works for its $200 million Mt Cass Wind Farm. The wind farm will generate 93 MW when it is completed – enough electricity to power 40,000 homes. It will be the largest wind farm in the South Island and the largest locally owned wind farm in New Zealand. The project was consented in 2012 after a thorough consultative Resource Management Act process. Financial close and offtake arrangements are expected to be finalised by late 2020. Main construction is expected to be completed by late 2021. Mt Cass will be the first wind farm in New Zealand to use the latest technology General Electric turbines optimised for the Mt Cass environment and designed specifically for extreme conditions. The 22 turbines, each standing at 135m tall will AT A GLANCE MAINPOWER NEW ZEALAND LIMITED WHAT: Consumer-owned electricity distribution business WHERE: North Canterbury and Kaikoura region, New Zealand WEBSITE: www.mainpower.co.nz www.mtcasswindfarm.co.nz MAIN POWER