WEL Networks

WEL Networks Limited is an electricity distribution company, serving the northern and central Waikato region of New Zealand.[1] WEL is the fifth largest electricity distribution companies in New Zealand, with over 80,000 connections and 5,226 km of lines.[2]

WEL Networks
IndustryElectricity distribution
Headquarters
Hamilton, New Zealand
Key people
Garth Dibley, CEO (since Sep 14)
OwnerWEL Energy Trust
Websitewww.wel.co.nz

WEL was formed when Legislation in 1988 amalgamated the Central Waikato Electric Power Board with Hamilton City Council's Electricity Division from 1989 to form Waikato Electricity Limited. After amalgamation, ownership of WEL was vested in the Waikato Electricity Authority (WEA). WEA formed WEL Energy Trust in 1993, with the first election in June, so that the community could have some ownership of WEL. In 1992 a third of WEL was sold to Utilicorp for almost $40m, a third retained for the Trust and a third given to customers. The Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998 forced WEL to sell its retail business. It sold to the State owned (but later bought as NGC by Vector Limited) Natural Gas Corporation for $89.9m. The Trust then bought back all WEL's shares to become its sole owner. In 2001 WEL was renamed WEL Networks Ltd. After the Trust's 2003 elections it reduced grants given to community groups and started paying discounts to customers.[3] By 2014 the Trust had paid over $240 million to customers in discounts, but had also invested over $60 million in community and energy efficiency grants. In 2014–15, over $2m was paid in grants.[4]

WEL Networks formed a joint venture in 2010 with Waipa Networks and Crown Fibre Holdings to establish Ultra-fast Fibre Limited, a company that owns and operates the fibre network in Hamilton, New Plymouth, Tauranga, and Whanganui.[5] In 2016, WEL and Waipa Networks paid $189 million to take 100% control of the Ultra-Fast Fibre company.[6] In 2020, WEL and Waipa Networks sold their interest in Ultra-fast Fibre to Japanese-owned First State Investments for $854 million.[7]

Distribution network

WEL's distribution area covers the Hamilton City and the majority of the Waikato District, including the towns of Ngāruawāhia, Huntly, Te Kauwhata and Raglan. The distribution network is supplied from Transpower's national grid at four grid exit points (GXPs): Hamilton (Ruakura Road), Te Kowhai, Huntly and Meremere. WEL networks uses 33,000 volts for subtransmission and 11,000 volts for distribution. As is standard in New Zealand, electricity is delivered to homes at 230/400 volts (phase-to-neutral/phase-to-phase).

WEL Networks Limited network statistics as of 31 March 2015[8]
ParameterValue
Total system length5,298 km
33 kV442 km
11 kV2,602 km
Low voltage (230/400 V)2,253 km
Street lighting1,165 km
Customer connections86,738
System maximum demand246 MW
System energy delivered1,266 GWh

Generation assets

Subsidiaries
  • Infratec Limited [11]

References
  1. "About WEL". WEL Networks. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  2. "Energy in New Zealand". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. September 2013.
  3. Chris, Gilson. Wiring up the Waikato. WEL Networks.
  4. "WEL Energy Trust - About the Trust". www.welenergytrust.co.nz. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  5. "Who builds the UFB network". Crown Infrastructure Partners. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  6. Boot, Sophie (7 September 2016). "Waikato Networks buys out Crown's holding in Ultra-fast Fibre for $189m". NBR. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  7. Evans, Gavin (12 May 2020). "WEL, Waipa sell fibre business to overseas investor for $854m". The Herald. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  8. "EDB Information Disclosure - Wellington Electricity Lines Limited - year ending 31 March 2015" (PDF). 28 August 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  9. "Raglan wind farm wins top award". Waikato Times. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  10. "Wel's windfarm critic has plenty of hits at hearing". Waikato Times. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  11. "WEL Networks purchases Infratec". NZX. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
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