Unison Networks

Unison Networks Limited (Unison) is an electricity distribution based in Hastings, New Zealand.

Unison Networks

Industry	Electricity distribution
Predecessor	Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board
Founded	1924
Headquarters	Hastings , New Zealand
Area served	Hawkes Bay, Rotorua, Taupō
Key people	Philip Hocquard (Chair) Jaun Park (CEO)
Revenue	$210m[1]
Net income	$27m[1]
Total assets	$721m[1]
Total equity	$343m[1]
Parent	Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust
Website	www.unison.co.nz

Unison owns and manages the electricity lines network in the Hawke's Bay, Rotorua and Taupō regions. The service area covers 12,000 km².^[2] The Unison group also provides electrical, civil, and vegetation contracting services; manufactures electrical products; and operates an insurance company.^[1]

Ownership

The company is 100% owned by the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust on behalf of electricity consumers in the Hawke's Bay area. The Trust is made up of five elected Trustees and operates under a Trust Deed.^[3]

Distribution network

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

Network statistics

Unison Networks Limited network statistics as of 31 March 2021^[4]

Parameter	Value
	Napier-Hastings	Rotorua & Taupō	Total
Total system length	5,560 km	3,786 km	9,347 km
33 kV	289 km	208 km	497 km
11 kV	2,521 km	2,126 km	4,647 km
Single wire earth return (SWER)	–	111 km	111 km
Low voltage (230/400 V)	2,750 km	1,341 km	4,091 km
Customer connections	65,721	50,003	115,724
System maximum demand	213 MW	127 MW	339 MW
Total energy delivered	1,027 GWh	682 GWh	1,710 GWh

Network performance

Unison reported the normalised performance of the network for the 2014/15 year as follows:^[1]

Parameter	Value
	Napier-Hastings	Rotorua & Taupō	Total
System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI)	89.6 mins	149.2 mins	115.3 mins
System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI)	1.74	2.29	1.97

History

Early in the twentieth century, electricity generation and distribution was managed by local councils or municipal departments. An electricity network was established in Hastings in 1912, with a power house in Eastbourne Street. Following changes to national legislation, the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board was formed in 1924.^[5]

Subsidiaries

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

See also

• Electricity sector in New Zealand