FromDannevirkeElectric PowerBoardtoScanpower Thestorybehindourname
Intheearly1990s,NewZealand’selectricityindustrywas undergoingmajorreform.TheintroductionoftheEnergy CompaniesAct1992markedaturningpoint,requiringpower boardsacrossthecountrytorestructureintocommercial entities.FortheDannevirkeElectricPowerBoard,thisshift wasn’tjustaboutcompliance;itwasaboutredefiningits identityforanewera.
Aspartofthetransition,theboardneededanewname,onethat reflecteditsevolvingrole,regionalroots,andfuturedirection.A numberofnameswereputforward,includingRuahinepower, SouthernEnergy,Scandipower,Vikingpower,andDanepower. Eachsuggestioncapturedadifferentaspectofthecompany’s heritage,geography,oraspirations.
Thefinaldecisionwasmadethroughavotingprocessinvolving bothstaffandboardmembers.Eachnamewasevaluatedfor itsrelevance,memorability,andhowwellitwouldrepresentthe
companyinachangingenergylandscape.Scanpoweremerged astheclearfavourite.
ThenameSCANisalsoanacronym,standingforSouthern CentralAreaNetwork,whichreflectsboththecompany’s geographicfootprintanditsroleintheelectricitydistribution network.Combinedwith“power,”thenamecapturedboththe company’spurposeanditsregionalidentity.
Scanpowerofficiallyadoptedthenamein1992,markinganew chapterinitshistory.Thecompanywasadaptingtoanewenergy landscapewhilestayinggroundedinthecommunityitwasbuilt toserve.
Today,thenameScanpowerissynonymouswithreliability, innovation,andlocalownership.Anamebornoutofchangehas becomeasymbolofcontinuity,100yearsafterthelightsfirst cameon.
ScanpowerTimeline
1925-2025
Growingour Capabilities
In1998,theElectricityIndustry ReformActrequiredelectricity distributionbusinesses (EDBs)acrossNewZealand toseparatetheirdistribution andretailoperations.For Scanpower,thismeantselling ourretailbusinesstoMeridian Energy,asignificantshiftin ouroperations.
Guidedbyourmission“to provideourregionwithareliable, safe,affordable,andsustainable electricitydistributionnetwork whilstusingourinnovationand skillstodevelopnewbusiness andemploymentopportunities withinourlocalcommunity,”we sawthischangeasachance toevolve.Itsetusonapath ofdiversification,innovation,and long-termresilience.
2003-Contracting
Thatjourneybeganin2003, whenweestablished ourContractingDivision.It startedwithasmallteamof linemechanicscrossingthe ManawatūRivertotakeona projectonthePowerconetwork inAshhurst.Itstartedwithone project,butthedivisionhas growninbothsizeandcapability andisnowakeypartofour business.
Today,Scanpower’sContracting Divisionoperatesfromdepots inFeildingandŌtaki,with areachthatextendsacross theNorthIsland,andevenas
farastheChatham Islands.Theteamhas builtareputationfor deliveringhigh-quality infrastructureservicesacross multipleEDBs,adaptingto diverseenvironmentsand challenges.
Beyondtraditionalpowerline infrastructure,thedivisionhas expandeditscapabilitiesto supporttheevolvingenergy landscape.Thisincludesthe installationofRuralConnectivity Group(RCG)sites,helping toimprovemobilecoverage inremoteareas,andthe deploymentofEVcharging stations,supportingNew Zealand’stransitiontoalowemissionsfuture.
Duringtheyear,Scanpower successfullysecuredasignificant newcontractawardedby Powerco,oneofNewZealand's largestEDBs.Beginningin September2025,Scanpower willbeoneoftwocontractors responsibleforcustomerdelivery servicesintheManawatūand Wairaraparegions.Thiscontract covershigh-volume,repeatable newconnectionwork,as wellasprojectwork,network extensions,andupgradeson Powerco'sundergroundand overheadnetworks.
ForScanpower,thiscontract representsbothastrategic opportunitytoexpand
operationsacrossothernetworks andasourceofstabilityforthe companyanditsshareholders. It’satestamenttothecapability, reliability,andprofessionalism oftheContractingDivision’s 24-strongteamofproject managers,designers,andline mechanics.
2005-Treesmart
In2003,theintroductionof theElectricity(Hazardsfrom Trees)Regulationsbroughtnew claritytotheresponsibilities ofEDBsandtreeownersin managingvegetationnear powerlines.ForScanpower,this presentedbothachallengeand anopportunity.
Atthetime,therewerelimited utilityarboristcontractors availablelocally.Ratherthan outsource,Scanpowersaw anopportunitytomeetour vegetationmanagement needswhilealsocreatinglocal jobs.Thatledtothecreation ofTreesmartin2005. Initiallyfocusedsolelyoninternal work,Treesmartbeganto branchoutin2012,takingon externalcontractsandexpanding itsreach.Today,Treesmart operatesfromadedicated depotinMangatainokaandhas grownintoateamof18skilled professionals.
Treesmartisnowatrusted providerofarboristservices forarangeofclients, includingPowerco,Horizons RegionalCouncilandTararua DistrictCouncil,aswellasprivate landownersandresidents.As of1July2025,Treesmarthas securedatwo-yearcontractwith PalmerstonNorthCityCouncilto manageandmaintainthe city’sstreettrees,asignificant milestonethatreflectstheteam’s professionalism,capability,and commitment.
2008-Property TheclosureoftheOringiFreezing
Works,onceScanpower’slargest electricityconsumer,marked aturningpointforboththe companyandthewider community.Whiletheclosure broughtchangeanduncertainty, italsopresentedanopportunity toreimaginethesite’spotential andcontributetothedistrict's future.
Thatvisionbecamereality withthedevelopmentof theOringiBusinessPark, whichtodayishometoseven businessesemploying around300people.The transformationofthesite hashelpedcreateavibrant commercialhub,supporting localemploymentandeconomic activity.
In2023,Scanpowerexpanded itscommitmenttothearea bypurchasingsixhectaresof landinfrontofthebusiness park.Thisstrategicacquisition opensthedoorforfuture developmentandthepotential toattractevenmorebusinesses tothecommunity,further strengtheningthelocaleconomy andcommunity.
Whatbeganasaresponseto industryreformhasgrown intoasetofbusinessesthat arenowdeeplyintegrated intowhoweareandhow weoperate.OurContracting Division,Treesmart,andProperty Investmentsarenolongerjust sideventures;theyareessential tothestrengthandsustainability ofourcoreelectricitydistribution network.Thesebusinesses providein-housecapabilities, financialresilience,andstrategic flexibility,allowingustomaintain ahighstandardofservicewhile continuingtoinvestinour Network.Together,theyhelp ensurethatScanpowerremains areliable,community-focused organisation,well-equippedto meetthechallengesoftodayand theopportunitiesoftomorrow.
PoweringOurNetworkForward
FortheScanpowernetwork,everyproject isguidedbyourcommitmenttodelivering safe,reliable,andaffordableelectricity servicestotheregion.Leadingthat workisourNetworkDivision,theteam responsibleforplanning,maintaining, andstrengtheningtheinfrastructurethat keepsourcommunitiesconnected.
BasedatOringi,ourNetworkDivisionis madeupof19skilledprofessionals,including engineers,projectmanagers,designers, andlinemechanics.Betweenthem,they bringanincredible217yearsofcombined experienceworkingforScanpower.Their extensiveknowledgeofournetwork,strong localties,andcommitmentarewhatenable ustodeliverhigh-quality,future-focused infrastructureacrossournetworkarea.
Overthepastdecade,we’vemadesignificant stridesinstrengtheningournetwork.
Fromtheinstallationofremote-controlled switchgearandoff-gridpowersystemstothe developmentofbackupcontrolfacilitiesand advanceddigitaltools,eachinitiativehasbeen designedtoreduceoutages,improvefault response,andenhancetheresilienceofour operations.
Whiletheseinvestmentssolvedimmediate challenges,they’vealsolaidthefoundation forasmarter,moreflexiblenetworkthat canadapttochangingdemands,weather events,andtechnologicalshifts.Ourwork hasspannedeverythingfromvoltagestability improvementsandundergroundcablingto solarintegrationanddigitalradiolinks,all withthegoalofensuringreliability.
Aswelookahead,thatcommitment continues.Thenextphaseofour developmentisalreadyunderway,with projectsthatwillexpandcapacity,enhance visibility,andsupportthetransitiontoalowcarbonenergyfuture.
RecentMilestones(2024)
New33kVCapableCircuittoDannevirke CommissionedinNovember2024,thisnew 9.8kmcircuitmarksamajormilestoneinour long-termsub-transmissiondevelopment strategy.Designedfor33kVbutinitially operatedat11kV,thelinesignificantly increasescapacitytotheDannevirke township.Itenhancessupplyresilience andsupportsfuturegrowth,includingthe electrificationoflocalindustryandtransport. Theprojectinvolvedextensivecollaboration withlocalauthorities,landowners,and contractors,andreflectsourcommitment todeliveringinfrastructurethatmeetsboth currentandfutureenergyneeds.
AssetHealthRiskManagementModel Implementation
Wehaveimplementedaquantitativeasset healthriskmodeltobettermanageourkey infrastructure.Thissystemvisuallymapsasset riskbasedoncondition(health)andnetwork impact(criticality),helpingusprioritise
renewalsandoptimisecapitalinvestment. Byidentifyinghigh-riskassetsbeforefailure, wecanreduceunplannedoutages,improve safety,andensureefficientuseofresources, strikingtherightbalancebetweenreliability andcost-effectiveness.
CurrentInitiatives (2024–2025)
VoltageRegulatorInstallationat DannevirkeBoundary
Toaddressgrowingdemandandmaintain networkreliability,fourvoltageregulators willbeinstalledontheDannevirketownship boundary.Thisprojectmaximisesthe remainingcapacityoftheexisting11kV networkwhiledeferringtheneedformajor infrastructureupgrades.Itprovidesshort-to medium-termheadroomandensuresfuture developmentsarestagedefficiently,avoiding strandedorunderutilisedassets.
SmartCoHikoPlatformImplementation
WeareadoptingtheSmartCoHiko platform,anadvancedlow-voltagenetwork managementsystemtailoredforNew Zealand’selectricitydistributionbusinesses. Byleveragingsmartmeterdata,thistoolwill providevisibilityover80%ofourlow-voltage networkforthefirsttime.Itwillenhanceour abilitytoassessloadpatterns,distributed generation(DG)congestion,hostingcapacity, andcompliance,supportingsmarterplanning andfuture-proofingournetwork.
RecloserRenewalProgramme
Threeagingreclosers,criticaldevicesthat automaticallyisolatefaultsandrestorepower, willbereplacedastheynearend-of-life. Theseupgradeswillimprovefaultresponse, reduceoutagedurations,andenhance networksafety.Thenewrecloserswillalso becompatiblewithmoderncontrolsystems, replacinglegacyunitsthatrelyonoutdated software.
AUFLSProtectionSchemeInstallation
Tocomplywithupdatednational requirements,weareimplementingafourblockAutomaticUnder-FrequencyLoad Shedding(AUFLS)scheme.Thisprotection systemhelpsstabilisethegridduringmajor faultsbyautomaticallysheddingload.As Transpowercouldnolongerprovidethis service,weareinstallingourownAUFLS equipmentwithintheirsubstation,working throughtheiraccessandcompliance processes.Thiscomplexprojectensuresour networkmeetsregulatorystandardsand contributestonationalgridstability.
What’sNext(2026–2029)
SCADAandRadioSystemsUpgrade
Toenhancevisibilityandcontrolofourhighvoltagenetwork,weplantoupgradeour SupervisoryControlandDataAcquisition (SCADA)systemandtransitiontoamodern digitalradionetwork.Thisupgradewillreplace
our20-year-oldsystembeforeitbecomes obsoletein2030.Thenewinfrastructurewill providefaster,moredetailedtechnicaldata fromfielddevices,suchasreclosers,voltage regulators,andloadbreakswitches,enabling improvedremoteaccess,engineeringanalysis, andassetmanagementdecisions.
Second33kVCapableCircuitto Dannevirke
Subjecttoloadgrowth,asecond33kVcapablelineisplannedalongTamakiRiver RoadtoreinforcesupplytoDannevirke. Thiscapacity-buildingprojectwillprovide additionalheadroomforfuturedemandand ensureamoreresilientandflexiblenetwork architecture.
Staged33kVSub-TransmissionProject
Toprepareforanticipatedregionalload growth,weareplanningastaged33kV sub-transmissionnetwork,includingthe constructionofanewzonesubstationin Dannevirke.Thiswillallowustodeliverbulk powertomultipleloadpointsandalignour infrastructurewithindustrystandards. Thesubstationwillfeaturemodular prefabricatedswitchrooms,indoor switchgear,andburiedcables,enhancing safety,reliability,andscalability.
DANNEVIRKE
WOODVILLE
