Powering our future
As the electricity distributor for central Waitaha Canterbury, Orion is firmly focused on powering a cleaner, brighter future.
With the region seeing sustained growth and demand for electrification increasing, The Orion Group Chief Executive Nigel Barbour says the need for a safe, reliable, and resilient power network is more important than ever.
“Stats NZ’s recent census data shows Selwyn is the fastest growing district in the country, and Christchurch is seeing growth year on year. We’re working to ensure we’re keeping ahead of that growth. Our new grid exit point at Norwood, a joint substation site with Transpower, opened in December 2023 and adds 25 per cent more capacity to our network.”
“Orion is essentially owned by the community we serve, so we’re deeply committed to our people and our region. We want to ensure we’re investing wisely for tomorrow, today,” says Nigel.
“We’re already using smart technology, as well as exploring innovations like the Lincoln flexibility project, which are alternatives to building more network. Ultimately, this means we can continue to meet the growing demand while keeping costs down for our customers.”
Nigel says building and maintaining the third-largest electricity network in the country is not without its challenges. These include widely reported instances of theft throughout the region.
“We’re seeing a lot of theft on our network. This is disrupting the power supply to our community, and it’s impacting businesses that are showing up to work to find they can’t operate.
“Most importantly, it’s putting the public and our staff and contractors at considerable risk. We’re grateful for the public’s vigilance, which has already led to arrests. If anyone sees or hears someone acting suspiciously around lines, please call 111 immediately.”
Stretching from the Rakaia to the Waimakariri and Banks Peninsula to Arthur’s Pass, Orion’s electricity distribution network covers remote rural areas, regional towns, and the city of Ōtautahi Christchurch.
The network extends over 8,000 square kilometres, has over 90,000 poles, and has more than 14,000 kilometres of lines and cables. It also delivers electricity to more than half a million Kiwis via 225,000 homes and businesses.