Your business newsletter from WEL Networks October/November 2002 WWe’vee’ve takentaken customercustomer Energex serviceservice toto wins major newnew levelslevels WELWEL NetworksNetworks contractcontract What’s good for the Waikato is WEL Networks has awarded its field maintenance WEL Networks chief executive Mike Underhill said the good for WEL and that’s why we’ve made and capital works business to Queensland-based contract with ENERGEX heralded a new development in a major investment in the reliability, ENERGEX Limited. WEL’s contracting. The new contract is structured to safety and capacity of our networks. The company has a major contract with Auckland’s lines align the objectives of WEL and ENERGEX to place We take pride in our high level of company Vector in Auckland and United Networks in increased emphasis on the reliable operation and customer service, particularly in network the Hibiscus Coast and as well as some contracts with maintenance of the lines network. fault situations. In fact, disruptions to Waikato areas. It also allows for greater accountability and he expects supply are uncommon, reflecting WEL’s ENERGEX New Zealand is part of ENERGEX Limited, a there would be some reduction in costs. multi-layered approach to network ENERGEX won the contract from three other companies reliability. Recent initiatives include: distribution and retail energy company owned by the Queensland Government. It has electricity and gas assets short-listed from nine which had submitted expressions • An annual “warrant of fitness” review in excess of $3.65 billion and supplies over 1.1 million of interest. Most of its workforce will be employed from of the integrity of the entire network customers. within the Waikato. to ensure reliability continues to improve. • Distribution automation, which isolates a fault area to minimise the ThatThat magnificentmagnificent manman number of customers affected and re- routes supply where possible. and his • Pre-fault identification through and his network condition surveys using flying machine thermal imaging and ultra-sound testing to identify equipment at risk of failure. One of New Zealand’s most successful aircraft milking cows, so I sold the herd 10 years ago and built builders works by himself from a hangar on a private Bantams full time.” • Network “meshing” which means that airfield at Te Kowhai. if one major component fails, others While most of the microlights are sold in New Zealand, will automatically take over without Max Clear, who has cruised the Waikato skies in aircraft South Africa is a growing market with three already in loss of supply. he built himself for nearly 43 years, is the brains and the country and orders for a further eight. Bantams are • The implementation of an “Outage manpower behind Micro Aviation which makes the also being flown in Australia, Hawaii, Malaysia, United Management System” which quickly Bantam microlight. Kingdom, Cook Islands and Norfolk Island. identifies the location and nature of Designed and built by Max on his former dairy farm In the past Max employed up to four staff building the an outage and which customers are which now operates as a private airfield, the Bantam aircraft but has refined the process and now gets most affected, allowing faster response and is sold to seven countries as well as New Zealand. of the parts manufactured by Hamilton companies and restoration of supply. Max learnt to fly in 1959 and built his first aircraft in assembles them himself. • A performance based contract with 1963. He soon realised the new craze of microlights There is also a growing kitset business where customers reward tied to fault response, was a cheap form of recreational flying, but many of buy all the parts and plans for $16,000, assemble them reliability targets, safety and the imported microlights were “rough” and left a lot and install their own engine. This compares with the customer service. to be desired. completed Bantam at $35,000 with a four stroke motor, For our business customers, an efficient, That’s when he designed the Bantam, starting a successful or $30,000 with the two stroke option. cost-effective and reliable energy supply business that has built and sold 206 of the tiny planes Microlights are comfortable for flights up to two hours, is a must and we aim to ensure that since 1987. cruise at about 140kph and fly between 170m and remains one of the key business 300m. advantages the region offers. “After a while it got too difficult building planes and 200 Another designed and built microlight by Max Clear. Total SAIDI Customer Interruption Period 150 100 Time (minutes) Time 50 0 NZ Average WEL WEL Overall WEL Urban WEL WEL CBD 04-2001/03-02 Networks Target Only Manufacturing Target Total 2002/03 2001/02 & Essential 2002-03 07-2001/06-02 Services Target 02/03 Source Electricity Line Business 2001 Information Disclosure Compendium WEL Network 7-2002. October/November 2002 Pat Donovan dipping wafers at the Donovan's chocolate wheel. Donovan’s chocolates for chocoholics Nearly three decades in the confectionery the factory floor where the public can watch industry has given Pat Donovan a pretty good specialty chocolates being made. idea of what activates a customer’s sweet tooth. Visitors are welcome and Pat Donovan takes school Starting with boiled sweets and candy sticks in groups on a guided tour with the highlight being Auckland, he bought a small Hamilton chocolate a wafer dipped in hot chocolate from the spectacular factory 11 years ago, turning it into a million chocolate wheel. dollar operation. A feature of Donovan’s are the specialty centres Donovan’s Chocolates is a family-owned operation and handmade chocolates such as walnut whirls with wife Gayle and sons Mark (sales and and many types of truffles. marketing) and Paul (production) sharing in its The company, which employs nine full time and progress and successes. two part time staff, was Since moving into new 1050sq metre premises in a finalist in the recent the Pukete industrial area, production has increased Hamilton Chamber of by 30% and the company turns out 4.5 tonnes of Commerce WestpacTrust Fairfield Bridge chocolate a week, both for the New Zealand and Business Awards, also Australian markets. picking up a special River bank Drinks The new building includes a cafe (serving hot export award for excellence. chocolate!) and public viewing area overlooking River Rd Date: 10 November 2002 Start times: Whitiora Bridge WWe’ree’re supportingsupporting 9.30am 2km 10.00am 12km 10.30am 6.3km Venue: Garden Place Round the 12km aikato River W 6.3km River Rd 2km Bridges Claudelands Bridge Bridges Start and Drinks Finish againagain Garden Place River bank River Memorial Dr ictoria St WEL Networks is again sponsoring the Round Because WEL Networks is committed to providing ongoing V the Bridges Race – one of the oldest athletics events community support, proceeds from the Round the Bridges Victoria Bridge in the Waikato. go to the McKenzie Centre for Children with Special Needs. Drinks The 58th annual event, which drew 1500 runners and Any other donations will be appreciated by the Centre. walkers last year, will be held on Sunday November 10 This is the sixth year WEL Networks has sponsored Round with races for competitive athletes, corporates, students the Bridges. Entry forms can be sourced from the following River bank and those who just want a fun run or walk in the sun. places: WEL Networks, corner of Victoria and London Highlight of the day is the 12km run for competitive Streets, 3rd floor reception; Y99.3; Smiths Sports Shoes, River bank athletes. Over the past 57 years winners have included Victoria St; or downloaded from www.wel.co.nz. Olympic greats such as Peter Snell, John Walker, Dick For any other enquires please contact Shoneen Dunning Drinks Quax and John Davies. (07) 858 1450. Round the River bank There are a number of other distances to be tackled on the day including: River bank Bridges 6.3km fun run and walk Courses 6.3km corporate and schools challenge 2km primary school race 12km fun run and walk and corporate challenge Cobham Bridge WEL Networks wants all other Waikato companies to get a team together for the 6.3km or 12km Corporate Challenges, a traditional highlight of the event. Check out our website www.wel.co.nz 24 hour faults WEL Networks • Corner London & Victoria Streets • Hamilton • PO Box 925 • Phone: 07 838 1399 0800 800 WEL • Fax: 07 858 1447 • 24 hour Faults: 0800 800 935 • Email: [email protected] 08000800 800800 935935.