About WEL
WEL Networks Company Profile
Our Business
The core business of WEL Networks is the provision of electricity distribution services to the Waikato. As an electricity distribution company we own, develop and maintain the electricity network of lines, cables, substations and associated infrastructure. Our network connects 80,000 customers to the national transmission and generation facilities. Most of our revenue comes from invoicing electricity retailers for the provision of distribution services.
Our System
Today WEL is the fifth largest electricity distribution company (by number of connections) out of 28 in New Zealand. Our primary focus is to supply a safe, reliable and reasonable priced distribution service to the people of the Waikato. Central to our area is the city of Hamilton but we also provide a service to a large rural area, mainly to the north and west of Hamilton. WEL manages, maintains and develops the network which has over 80,000 connections and an annual throughput of over 1100GWh. We run a network of 4,900 kilometers which includes 1,470 kilometers underground. We have three major points of supply (connection points) into the national grid (Transpower) which provide a high level of system security for our consumers and we are continuing to invest significantly in the future development of our network with almost $200 million works planned for the next 10 year period. We provide a detailed forward-looking asset management plan. Improving our reliability of supply is a major focus for the Company.
Our Services
As well as providing a distribution service to our traditional network area we also competitively tender for the electricity reticulation services in major subdivisions throughout New Zealand. We already have a number of these subdivisions that are operational in Auckland, Taupo, Wellington and Tauranga. More information on this service.
The company is currently exploring alternative power generation to complement its core business. It operates a 1MW landfill gas generation plant at Horotiu, and has entered into an agreement with Meridian Energy to develop a $200 million wind park near Te Uku.
Our Owners
WEL Networks has one shareholder, the WEL Energy Trust, a community trust that represents the interests of the local community. The Trust is elected every three years. The long term capital beneficiaries of the Trust are the local councils, Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council and Waipa District Council.
Click on the logo below to visit the WEL Energy Trust website.
Our Governance
The WEL Energy Trust appoints a commercial Board of Directors to manage the company. This Board operates under strong commercial principles.
The Board is as follows:
John Spencer Chairman
Margaret Devlin Chairperson of the Audit Committee
John Birch
Hon Richard Prebble
Paul McGilvary
Mark Franklin
For more information on the Directors view their profiles in the Annual Report 2009.
In turn the Board appoints the Chief Executive. Julian Elder has been the Chief Executive at WEL since May 2007.
For more information on Management please also go to the Annual Report 2009.
WEL currently has a staff of approximately 180.
Our Values
At WEL we pride ourselves on the way in which we work as a company internally and the way in which we manage our external relationships, including those with consumers. We have adopted a set of values which we have integrated into our processes and procedures, they are:
A Agility
B Build the Business
C Care for each other
D Do the right thing
E Every day home safe
We welcome feedback from our consumers on our service connect@wel.co.nz
Pricing and Discount
The WEL Energy Trust has endorsed an annual discount programme to consumers as a means of reducing prices. These discounts are passed on to consumers annually and appear on the electricity bill that is sent out by the retailer. More information on the WEL discount.
Our History
WEL Networks, along with its many predecessors, has a well established place in the local community having operated in the Waikato since approximately 1912. The company has had a variety of different names and faces over the years, notably the Waikato Electric Power Board, Hamilton City Council Electrical Division, Central Waikato Electric Power Board, Waikato Electricity Limited and WEL Energy Group Ltd. From 1999 the company became WEL Networks Limited after the Government enforced a separation of lines and retail services which saw the company sell off its retail business to Natural Gas Corporation and keep the lines (distribution) part of the business.
Last updated: Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Latest News