Welcome to the Energy Trusts of New Zealand Inc

View: Electricity Network Boundries/Trust Member Information

• The ETNZ is the national organisation for 22 energy trusts, the majority of whom own shares in companies that operate electricity  networks (lines businesses).
• Member trusts have investments of more than $5 billion in these lines companies.
• The trusts that own most of the lines industry on behalf of communities or consumers are not involved in day-to-day management. However, like any group of shareholders, have rights to appoint suitably qualified directors to the boards of the companies they own.
• While some of the Trusts have deeds and responsibilities which are similar, many are varied and may include community trusts, consumer trusts and a mix of appointed/elected people on them.
• Consumer ownership allows local businesses, industry and individuals to have input on issues like the supply stability of the networks and the pricing mechanisms of their local lines company.
• Trusts are obliged to foster an environment that enables lines companies to operate as successful businesses. This is very difficult under the current heavy regulatory regime.
• For example, the removal of cross-ownership restriction would enable lines companies to freely generate and retail electricity. This would positively encourage increased investment and competition in both generation and retailing, to the benefit of consumers.
• Currently, retailers do not have to separate the energy and distribution costs on the bill. ETNZ supports more transparent billing information for consumers.
• ETNZ works closely with the Electricity Networks Association (ENA) which represents the interests of the country's electricity lines companies - the lines sector.
• ENA's  members are the lines companies marked on the diagram below. They range in size from Vector, with about 660,000 end users, down to Buller Electricity, with about 4000.
• The ETNZ Conference provides a forum for representatives from the energy trusts to share knowledge and to hear from key stakeholders involved in the energy sector.