Unison Networks Limited
Unison Networks Limited, trading as Unison, owns and operates the electricity network that distributes electricity to Hawke’s Bay, Taupo and Rotorua. We are one of 27 distribution companies in New Zealand with more than 15 electricity retailers operating on our network.
We're wholly owned by the Hawke’s Bay Power Consumers’ Trust. The Trust holds shares on behalf of Hawke's Bay power consumers connected to Unison's network.
The Unison network has over $600m worth of fibre and electricity assets. The electricity network is over 9,000km in length, and supplies around 110,600 connection points with approximately 1,590 GWh of electricity per annum, making Unison the fifth largest distributor in New Zealand. The fibre network is made up of 700 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the key business areas in Hawke's Bay, Rotorua and Taupo.
We also provide network and financial services under a management contract to the Central Hawke’s Bay Consumers’ Power Trust, owner of the Central Hawke's Bay electricity distribution network, Centralines.
Unison Networks is a distributor of electricity
Unison Networks is one of 27 electricity distribution businesses (lines companies) that is responsible for distributing power from the national grid to homes and businesses.
Broadly speaking the industry can be broken down into four main components - generation, transmission, distribution and retail. The diagram below shows how we fit into the wider electricity system.
Generators
Electricity is generated around New Zealand, with around 80 percent coming from renewable sources like hydro dams and wind farms.
Transmission
Electricity is transmitted to regions across New Zealand through the national grid, which is owned and operated by state-owned enterprise, Transpower.
Distribution - 'us'
Unison is one of 27 lines companies that connects to the national grid, and distributes electricity across New Zealand. We own and operate the networks in Hawke's Bay, Rotorua and Taupo.We sell electricity to retailers who, in turn, provide a service to customers.
Retailers
Electricity retailers are the companies that sell electricity to households and most businesses. They manage customer needs and invoicing of electricity costs. The invoice includes transmission charges from Transpower, and line charges from Unison.