Orion's network performance best in country

8 December 2005

Orion New Zealand Ltd, electricity distributor to central Canterbury including Christchurch, has again been rated as the most reliable major electricity distribution network in New Zealand.  In the year to 31 March 2005 Orion's customers were without power for an average of just 52 minutes.  This compared to a national average of around two and a half hours.

The result was drawn from a recently published comparison of electricity distribution network companies operating in New Zealand by international consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. 

It continues a trend by Orion as the best performing major electricity distribution network in the country.

"Over the last decade we have consistently had very few power outages per customer in our network area compared to other areas in New Zealand and internationally. Our customers have been without power for a much shorter length of time," said Orion CEO Roger Sutton.   

On average, Orion's customers have lost power for less than one hour per annum over the last five years.  A result that means an Orion customer has had continuous power supply for 99.99% of the time.

"Our primary goal is to provide our community with a reliable and safe supply of electricity.  We are the best major network operator in the country at achieving this goal," said Mr Sutton. 

"When you consider the terrain we cover includes challenging areas such as the Southern Alps and Banks Peninsula, it is quite an accomplishment, and a real tribute to our staff, that we offer better reliability to our customers than that observed by say Wellington and Auckland customers."

Orion's excellent reliability performance has also been achieved while constraining prices. Over the last five years Orion's prices have fallen by over 15% in real terms. The increase in electricity prices seen over the last few years has generally been a result of higher costs imposed by generators and retailers of electricity.

For more information, contact:

Roger Sutton
Chief Executive Officer
03-363-9846
Mobile 027 4333 632