The Lines Company Ltd 2.81

Our distribution area covers 13,700 km2 and is the largest network area in New Zealand with no major urban centre. This makes us specialists in providing power to out of the way places, including to the highest points in the North Island of New Zealand (the Turoa and Whakapapa skifields on Mount Ruapehu).

As well as keeping power flowing to homesand businesses in the region we also provide a full electrical contracting service.

The company came into existence in April 1999 following major reforms to the electricity industry by the Government of the day. These reforms required the separation of electricity distribution businesses from electricity generation and retail businesses.At the time of its formation The Lines Company took over the former King Country Energy (KCE) distribution network while KCE purchased our two power stations and retail customer base.

The Lines Company is owned by two community trusts each elected by the people of their regions. The Waitomo Energy Services Trust owns 90 per cent of the company and King Country Electric Power Customer Trust owns 10 per cent of the company.

Our head office is in Te Kuiti, but we also have a physical presence in Otorohanga, Taumarunui, Turangi, Ohakune, and Mangakino.

We have around 24,000 customers, including domestic consumers and holiday home owners through to major industries like NZ Steel and McDonald's Lime.

The company’s electricity distribution business operates in a regulated environment where its prices are controlled by the Commerce Commission.

The Lines Company has four subsidiary companies – Clearwater Hydro, John Deere Electrical, Scope Infrastructure and FCL – which all operate in an unregulated market environment.