connections AUTUMN 2020 MLL’s newest zone substation located in Renwick was commissioned in September 2019 Payments to consumers All eligible consumers connected to Marlborough Lines Limited’s (MLL’s) network received a distribution from the Marlborough Electric Power Trust of $200 on their electricity retailer’s account in February/March this year. The distribution payment has been funded from investments made by MLL including Yealands Wine Group and Nelson Electricity. $200 TRUST DISTRIBUTION In April/May, all eligible consumers MLL will advise each consumer TO EVERY CONSUMER will receive a discount payment from individually of the discount payment MLL in relation to the operation of our that should be received from your network. The discount payment will electricity retailer. appear as a credit on your electricity The amount of the discount payment retailer’s account. varies for each eligible consumer The pricing page on MLL’s website depending on the type of connection has more information on the and amount of electricity consumed $226 distribution and discount payments, between February 2019 and January DISCOUNT PAID TO A including respective eligibility criteria 2020. An “average domestic consumer” TYPICAL DOMESTIC at www.marlboroughlines.co.nz. as defined by the Ministry of Business, CONSUMER Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will receive $226 (incl. GST). network Line delivery prices New line delivery prices will come into effect from 1 April 2020. MLL passes on its prices to the electricity retailers trading on MLL’s network. Line delivery prices cover the costs of MLL’s network business as well as transmission (Transpower) costs. Key highlights of the 1 April 2020 price changes include: » A decrease in prices for the » The introduction of remote majority of price plans. For an residential price plans. This will ‘average’ domestic (residential) allow MLL to segregate those price plan consumer, the line consumers deemed remote (refer delivery prices will decrease by to the map included on the pricing $7.20 per annum (pre-discount). page of MLL’s website), who are » An increase in the discount ineligible for the discount payment payment rate applicable to and for the low fixed charge most price plans. residential price plan. » The introduction of an uncontrolled The way in which your retailer irrigation pricing plan, to provide applies these price plans to you irrigation consumers with an as the consumer may vary. For appropriate alternative price plan further information on MLL’s pricing, to the existing controlled irrigation please visit our website at price plan equivalents. www.marlboroughlines.co.nz. Have a complaint? Have your say… MLL is a member of Utilities Disputes Limited, an organisation that provides a free and independent dispute resolution service for electricity complaints. They also consider disputes about If you contact us directly, we will actions of staff or contractors, as review your complaint and attempt Phone 0800 22 33 40 well as access to land and its use to resolve it with you within 20 or (04) 914 4630 on which electricity infrastructure business days. If we are unable Overseas +64 4 914 4630 and installations are located. to resolve the complaint in that time, you may decide to raise the Email [email protected] Should you have a complaint that you complaint with Utilities Disputes. would like to be formally addressed, Postal Freepost 192682 PO Box 5875 please contact MLL directly by either Further information on the Wellington 6140 phoning our Customer Services Team complaints process, and what on (03) 577 7007 or emailing us at disputes can be considered Freefax 0800 22 33 47 [email protected], or alternatively, are included on the Utilities Fax (04) 472 5854 contact Utilities Disputes (details right). Disputes website at www.utilitiesdisputes.co.nz. New Chief Executive Officer MLL is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Cosgrove to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Tim will commence his employment Tim was a Lieutenant Commander in in early April. Tim has held roles the New Zealand Navy. He holds the within the Todd Corporation as Tertiary qualifications of Bachelor of General Manager Todd Generation Commerce and Master of Engineering. and headed Operations and Tim also has family connections in Development for Nova Energy. Prior Marlborough and is looking forward to his time with Todd Corporation, to taking up the appointment. safety around electricity Contacting overhead lines or underground cables… Overhead power lines are occasionally brought down as a result of incidents such as vehicle accidents, contact from mobile plant (e.g. diggers or grape harvesters) and falling trees. When lines are on, or near, the ground they must be treated as alive and not approached – there is an extreme risk of death or injury through contact with the lines. In all cases never assume that power lines are de-energised. Never climb on a roof or trees where lines and/or underground cables. assess the situation. Where safe to do there are overhead lines nearby. If it If mobile plant or equipment will be so we will issue a ‘close approach is necessary to do painting, roofing, within 4m of overhead lines, you must permit’ along with the conditions that tree trimming or any other work have a ‘close approach permit’ from must be followed. near overhead lines please phone MLL . Similarly, before starting any MLL offers this our Customer Services Team on ground excavations please undertake service free (03) 577 7007 and make checks to ensure there are no of charge. arrangements to have the power underground cables present. disconnected to eliminate the risk Contacting live lines could result in of electrocution. serious harm, or even death. Please When using mobile plant and other contact us if ever in doubt about equipment, always first stop and working near overhead lines and/or check for the presence of overhead underground cables, and we will Ser Service lines vice line Property owners are responsible for areas, the point of entry to a property It is recommended that property the maintenance and replacement of may not be clearly apparent. owners carry out regular visual the power line from the point of checks to ensure that the lines, Overhead service lines may extend supply, which is normally where the and poles supporting the lines over several poles on a property line crosses the boundary of the on their property, are in good order. before they connect to our Network. property, to the point of connection Checks should include determining to the installation. This is typically If you are not sure which portion of that lines are not likely to be subject known as the service line. However the power line is your responsibility to interference by trees. We can in some areas, especially in rural please contact us. undertake inspections as required. Medically dependent consumers and emergency preparedness planning Those consumers who MLL would like to remind consumers back up plan(s) in place, in the unlikely require electricity to support who are medically dependent, to event of a sustained outage. Electricity devices for medical (health) check their status with their electricity retailers hold the information about retailer, and to ensure that they are consumers who are medically dependence, should have well prepared with an appropriate dependent. back up plans in place in the unlikely event of a sustained The same message applies to period without electricity. all consumers on MLL’s network. A natural hazard, or unplanned event While MLL endeavours to provide could result in a significant period a reliable supply of electricity, of time without electricity. Fortunately, circumstances and situations can these events are very rare, however, arise where a sustained unplanned MLL encourages consumers to outage occurs on the network. The prepare accordingly by reviewing November 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake your business or home emergency was a stark reminder of this. preparedness plans. communitysponsorship How do we evaluate sponsorship requests? We receive many requests for sponsorship, however, it is unfortunately not feasible for us to support them all. To ensure a fair and transparent process we evaluate all requests in accordance with our Sponsorship Policy, which considers whether the 2019 Tertiary Award Recipients sponsorship requests: Helping our Marlborough communities thrive » Are from Marlborough organisations or people; As one of Marlborough’s larger employers, a Trust-owned » Are associated with the entity, and a provider of essential services, Marlborough Lines education and advancement has an important role to play in the community as a good of youth; corporate citizen. In part, this is achieved through supporting » Promote the Marlborough worthwhile community projects and events, which we have region in either a commercial, a proud record of doing over many years. educational, sporting, cultural or historical sense; A selection of projects and events » Benefit greater, rather than that we have recently supported fewer, numbers of people; and include: » Provide the Company with » Marlborough Schools’ Tertiary recognition of its community Study Awards; role and commercial presence » Māori Tertiary Study Award; in the local economy. » Picton Maritime Festival; Sponsorship requests, with details » Marlborough Wine & Food included, can be emailed to us Festival; at: [email protected]. These will be » Marlborough 4 Fun Summer reviewed and a Marlborough Lines Concert Series; and representative will be in contact to advise the outcome. » Havelock Mussel Festival. Photography by Richard Briggs Always at your service Our fault service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any problems with your electricity supply please call us on (03) 577 7007. Please note our office hours have changed and we are now open 8am to 5pm weekdays (excluding public holidays). Our website: www.marlboroughlines.co.nz also provides further information in relation to the electricity network, services provided, pricing and the status of the network..