River Power

Mighty

MIGHTY RIVER POWERNew Zealand’s renewable energy provider for homes and businesses

MIGHTY RIVER POWERNew Zealand’s renewable energy provider for homes and businesses

Mighty River Power (MRP) is one of New Zealand’s

largest electricity companies, with its core

business based on reliable, low fuel-cost

electricity generation to homes and businesses.

All of this energy generated is from renewable sources,

and each year the hydro and geothermal power stations

operated by MRP generate enough renewable electricity for

around 1 million New Zealand homes.

The company is proud of its New Zealand heritage, and

operates all of its nine hydro stations on the Waikato River,

with its five geothermal power stations in the Central North Island. Electricity is sold through MRP’s multiple channels

and retail brands for residential and commercial customers.

UNIQUE APPROACH Due to the nature of their operations, the company’s business

model is based on a partnership approach, collaborating with

communities to achieve positive results.

MRP strongly believes this creates long-term sustainable

value from the responsible management of natural resources

that are fuel for electricity. “This approach benefits our partners and their communities, our shareholders and our customers,”

it states.

Working closely with Maori landowners such as Tauhara

North No.2 Trust and Tuaropaki Trust have been key to the

organisation’s geothermal growth and evolution.

“Our results demonstrate the value of a genuine focus

on profit with a purpose, in the way we engage with our communities, our focus on sustainable use of resources, and

how we deliver product innovation and care for our customers,”

says MRP.

Its three major geothermal power stations are Kawerau,

completed in 2008 which has an output of 100 MW, Nga

Awa Purua in 2010 which has 138 MW and Ngatamariki in

2013 which has 82 MW. The combined output of electricity

from these stations, which usually run 24/7, provide enough

renewable electricity to supply 330,000 New Zealand homes.

RETAIL BRANDSAlmost one in five New Zealand homes and businesses rely on MRP to supply their energy. The company has created

several channels and retail brands to meet the needs of all of

its customers.

Mercury Energy is by far the company’s largest retail brand,

accounting for more than 94% of end-user electricity sales and

enjoying a reputation that its one of the longest established

major retail electricity brands in the country.

Recognising that some residential customers wish to closely

monitor the amount of electricity consumed in the home,

Globug is a prepay service utilising smart metering to allow

just that. Customers can align their electricity expenditure with their income and manage debt more easily.

Customers living in apartments in the Auckland and Wellington central business districts are served by Bosco

Connect, while Tiny Mighty Power was launched in 2009 out of the Bosco Connect brand. It retails electricity into some of the country’s smaller regional towns.

Another division of the business is Metrix, which provides Advanced Metering Infrastructure and services to New

Zealand’s other electricity retailers.

SOLAR ENERGYIn January 2016, MRP announced it was to purchase one of

New Zealand’s leading solar businesses, What Power Crisis

P 64 7 575 5079 F 64 7 575 5994 E enquiries@page-macrae.co.nz

www.page-macrae.co.nz

Our purpose is to challenge ourselves to understand our

customers’ needs and form long term successful partnerships

by the way we deliver our services. We pride ourselves

on the ability to solve problems through innovation and

“thinking outside the square”.

(WPC), to branch into the solar energy industry.Although currently a niche renewable energy technology

which accounts for less than 1% of generation in the country,

the interest in solar energy has grown considerably in recent

years. Chief Executive Fraser Whineray explains: “We know a number of Kiwis are looking at solar to complement grid-

connected electricity. In the last two years solar installations

have increased fourfold up from around 2000 in January 2014

to more than 8000 now.

“We are excited to be adding proven solar technology and installation expertise to our business, and be able to introduce a solar offering for our customers through Mercury Energy,

our retail brand, in the near future,” he added.

P 64 7 575 5079 F 64 7 575 5994 E enquiries@page-macrae.co.nz

www.page-macrae.co.nz

Our purpose is to challenge ourselves to understand our

customers’ needs and form long term successful partnerships

by the way we deliver our services. We pride ourselves

on the ability to solve problems through innovation and

“thinking outside the square”.As one of New Zealand’s largest engineering companies, Page Macrae

Engineering was proud to partner with Mighty River Power on their recent

geothermal power station projects.

The journey began in 2007, when Page Macrae Engineering had its first major

introduction into geothermal power, and were awarded a contract by Fuji Electric

Systems to carry out the pipe fabrication and mechanical installation at Mighty

River Power’s Kawerau station. Completed in 2008, it boasted the largest single

shaft steam turbine of its type in the world at the time.

In 2009 and then again in 2012, Page Macrae was again called upon to undertake

the mechanical works and installation for Mighty River Power’s Nga Awa Purua and

Ngatamariki geothermal power stations in Taupo.

We have a great depth of experience and skill in our team with many long-serving

employees - this is just one of the many reasons we have been engineering

solutions for our clients for the past 60 years and will continue on for the next 60

years – we are here for the long haul.

New Zealand is a world leader in terms of renewable

electricity generation, with 80 percent of its energy coming

from renewable sources. Solar power is in line to complement

those hydro, geothermal and wind sources.

WPC was established in 2005 and carries out residential and commercial solar PV installations throughout New Zealand

such as those at the Auckland Museum and Air New Zealand.

It also has experience in installations in the Pacific, where its projects included the Fred Hollows Foundation Eye Hospital in the Solomon Islands.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENTMRP is not only dedicated to renewable electricity generation,

but allowing local communities to get the most out of New

Zealand’s incredible natural resources.

PSC is an independent global provider of solutions and support to the electricity industry. Our mission is to help our clients power the world. We

achieve this through our objectivity, unique mix of services, breadth of technology experience and holistic partnerships with our clients.

pscconsulting.com

Our unique service mix HVDC Market systems Operational technologies Power networks DER Strategic advisory

HELPING OUR CLIENTS POWER THE WORLD

Lake Karapiro is one such location, perfect for water sports

and recreations and hosting a number of water sports events.

Mighty River Domain borders the lake, and is a valued

community asset which provides the facilities and space to

support the wide range of events held at the lake.

In 2009, a sponsorship partnership between MRP and

Waipa District Council saw the domain re-named Mighty River Domain. The company’s sponsorship is supporting significant domain upgrades being undertaken by the council such as

new facilities an upgrades to roading and infrastructure.

The source of the company’s power - the river Waikato,

is also a popular area for domestic and international tourists

alike to visit and appreciate the region’s natural beauty.

The Waikato River Trails is a 100km long cycle and walkway

along its banks which showcase the native bush, historic

landmarks, geological formations and wetlands along the

banks of the Waikato River and Waikato hydro lakes.

MRP helps to preserve these resources as a sponsor of the

Waikato River Trail Trust, and encourages people to connect

with, and appreciate the Waikato River. Staff regularly help

on planting days, and the company provides space for

equipment storage at sites along the trail too.

Oliver Moy Publisher

For enquiries emailokm@aubusinesscoverage.com