Centralines
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1923
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Centralines firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centralines
- Legal name
- Centralines Limited
- Website
- https://centralines.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1923
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centralines industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electricity Distribution
- NAICS
- Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distribution Network Construction (Feeders, Laterals, Service Drops) (IMAFAHAC), Substations, Transformers & Grid Step-Up Facilities (EHV Substations, GSU Transformers) (EUAMAFAE), Electrical Balance-of-Plant EPC (MV Collection, Cabling, Earthing, Lighting) (EUAEADAB), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)
Keywords
Where Centralines is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Centralines business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Electricity Distribution Line Charges: Centralines charges electricity retailers for the distribution of electricity across its network. The company does not directly bill consumers; instead, retailers bundle these charges with their costs on consumers' bills. Revenue is regulated by the Commerce Commission under Default Price-Quality Path methodology.
- Consumer Discounts and Rebates: As a consumer-owned company, Centralines returns profits to consumers through discounts on electricity bills. Discounts are passed through electricity retailers based on consumption and number of ICPs.
- Joint Venture Solar Farm Revenue: 50:50 joint venture with Lodestone Energy for solar farm development. The project will generate revenue through electricity generation sold to the network.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Monthly | Residential - Low Fixed Charge (for households using less than 8,000 kWh/year) |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Residential - Standard Delivery Charges |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Distributed Generation Connection Fees - Above 10kW but less than 100kW |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Distributed Generation Connection Fees - 100kW to less than 1MW |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Distributed Generation Connection Fees - 1MW and above |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Distributed Generation Connection - 10kW or less (SSDG) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | EV Charging - Charge N' Go |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Centralines product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Centralines operates and maintains the electricity distribution network for Central Hawke's Bay, transmitting power from Transpower's national grid to over 9,300 rural, urban residential, commercial and industrial connections. In addition to regulated line distribution services, the company offers distributed generation connection services, public EV fast charging, tree trimming, underground cable location, safety disconnections, and electrical maintenance work. The company is expanding into renewable generation through a 50:50 joint venture solar farm with Lodestone Energy.
Product overview
Centralines is a consumer-owned electricity distribution company serving Central Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The company operates a single unified distribution network providing electricity delivery to over 9,300 connections. Beyond core electricity distribution, Centralines offers a portfolio of network services including tree trimming, underground cable location, safety disconnections, and electrical maintenance. The company is expanding into renewable energy through the Ongaonga Solar Farm joint venture with Lodestone Energy. Additionally, Centralines provides EV charging infrastructure through its Charge N' Go stations and manages distributed generation connections for customers installing solar or other generation systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Electricity Distribution Network Core electricity distribution network service that operates and maintains the network in Central Hawke's Bay, delivering power from Transpower's grid exit points to over 9,300 rural, urban residential, commercial and industrial connections. Revenue is regulated by the Commerce Commission under the Default Price-Quality Path methodology.
- Charge N' Go EV Fast Charging Public electric vehicle fast charging stations operated by Centralines, including DC fast chargers that can charge typical EV batteries to 80% in 15-20 minutes. Priced at NZ$0.40/minute after initial free period.
- Distributed Generation Connection Services Services for connecting distributed generation equipment (solar panels, etc.) to the Centralines network, including applications for systems 10kW or less (SSDG) and systems above 10kW with tiered fees (e.g., NZ$770 application fee for systems 10kW to under 100kW).
- Tree Trimming Services Expert arborist services to keep trees clear of powerlines, protecting electricity supply and customer safety. Available to residential and commercial customers.
- Cable Location Service Service to locate underground cables before digging to avoid the risk of hitting live electricity or fibre cables. Available to anyone planning excavation work.
- Safety Disconnections Temporary disconnection services for work close to power lines and cables, including high load permits. Ensures safety during construction or maintenance activities near power infrastructure.
- Electrical Work Services Maintenance services for privately-owned electricity supply equipment and assets. Available to property owners requiring specialist work on their electrical supply infrastructure.
- Ongaonga Solar Farm (Utility-Scale Generation) A 35-hectare utility-scale solar farm being developed in 50:50 joint venture with Lodestone Energy on the Ruataniwha Plains. Will generate approximately 49.6 GWh annually, powering approximately 7,000 homes, with construction beginning in 2026. Represents Centralines' expansion into local renewable generation to improve energy resilience.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.99% average power availability - customers had power on average 99.99% of the year
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Centralines
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Centralines technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Centralines partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lodestone Energycore50:50 joint venture partnership for development of Ongaonga solar farm on Ruataniwha Plains. Lodestone brings proven expertise in utility-scale solar development and operation, with existing agrivoltaic solar farms across Aotearoa. The solar farm will generate approximately 50 GWh annually and connect directly to Centralines' network.
- Unison Networks LimitedcoreLong-standing partnership reaffirmed with new five-year Management Services Agreement. Unison provides management services to Centralines and oversees design and fit out of building data networks. Unison's Network Operations Centre handles calls for Centralines.
- Unison ContractingminorPart of expert team working on Ruataniwha Substation upgrade project alongside Unison Networks, Connell Contracting, Mitton Electronet, EDC, Transpower, and RPS Switchgear.
- Connell ContractingminorPart of expert team for Ruataniwha Substation upgrade project providing construction expertise.
- Mitton ElectronetminorPart of expert team for Ruataniwha Substation upgrade project providing electrical infrastructure expertise.
- Hawke's Bay AirportminorJoint venture agreement to explore potential commercial solar farm on-airport to support Hawke's Bay Airport's carbon neutrality goals. Project intended to produce up to 10 megawatts of electricity with resource consents to be sought for initial construction stage.
- Central Hawke's Bay District CouncilminorJoint initiative with Council for EV Charge N' Go station in Russell Street, Waipukurau next to Civic Theatre. Partnership between two locally owned organisations.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Centralines competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Horizon Energy Distribution: Horizon Energy Distribution is a small NZ EDB on the East Coast (Gisborne area), comparable to Centralines in scale, rural customer base, and exposure to weather-driven outage risk (Cyclone Gabrielle also tested Horizon's network).
- Unison Networks Limited: Unison Networks is the closest direct peer to Centralines: a Hawke's Bay / Taupo / Rotorua region electricity distribution business that operates under the same NZ regulatory framework. Unison additionally provides the management services agreement underpinning Centralines' operations, making it both peer and operational partner.
- Waipa Networks: Waipa Networks is a consumer-trust-owned EDB serving the Waikato district - a near-identical structural match to Centralines, with similar size (low single-digit thousands of connections), trust ownership, and rural/regional customer profile.
- The Lines Company: The Lines Company is a small NZ consumer-trust-owned EDB serving the King Country / Ruapehu region. Structurally analogous to Centralines in ownership model, scale, rural customer mix, and DPP-regulated revenue profile.
- Network Tasman: Network Tasman is a trust-owned EDB serving the Nelson/Tasman region, providing the same consumer-ownership governance model and regulated distribution services as Centralines. Comparable scale, customer type, and asset profile.
- EA Networks: EA Networks is a consumer-owned (Ashburton District) EDB with a comparable trust structure to Centralines; Director Tony Gray previously served on EA Networks' board. The two share operating model, regulatory exposure, and connection density profile.
- Eastland Network (Eastland Group): Eastland Network is a small NZ Electricity Distribution Business serving the Gisborne/East Coast region, comparable in scale and rural/agricultural customer mix to Centralines. Both are regionally anchored EDBs operating under Commerce Commission DPP oversight with similar regulatory and operational profiles.
Broad incumbents
- Powerco: Powerco is the second-largest NZ EDB by connection count, operating across multiple regions. While much larger than Centralines, Powerco shares the same regulated distribution business model and offers useful comparison for capex scale and DPP economics.
- Vector Limited: Vector is NZ's largest EDB by connections, serving Auckland. As a broad incumbent in the same industry, Vector provides the upper bound reference for scale, capex intensity, and operational sophistication in NZ electricity distribution.
Emerging players
- Lodestone Energy: Lodestone Energy is Centralines' JV partner for the Ongaonga Solar Farm and a New Zealand-focused utility-scale solar developer/operator with agrivoltaic assets. Comparable through the lens of emerging NZ solar generation, though Lodestone is generation-only rather than distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Centralines social profiles
Digital presenceCentralines financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centralines leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Centralines funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Centralines M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Centralines
What does Centralines do?
Centralines operates and maintains the electricity distribution network for Central Hawke's Bay, transmitting power from Transpower's national grid to over 9,300 rural, urban residential, commercial and industrial connections. In addition to regulated line distribution services, the company offers distributed generation connection services, public EV fast charging, tree trimming, underground cable location, safety disconnections, and electrical maintenance work. The company is expanding into renewable generation through a 50:50 joint venture solar farm with Lodestone Energy.
Is Centralines a public or private company?
Centralines is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Centralines founded?
Centralines was founded in 1923. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Centralines based?
Centralines is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Centralines make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Electricity Distribution Line Charges are the primary driver. The others are consumer Discounts and Rebates and joint Venture Solar Farm Revenue.
Who are Centralines's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Horizon Energy Distribution, Unison Networks Limited, Waipa Networks, The Lines Company, Network Tasman, EA Networks and Eastland Network (Eastland Group). Broad incumbents are Powerco and Vector Limited. Lodestone Energy is listed as an emerging player.
Does Centralines have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centralines.
What industry is Centralines in?
Centralines's product category is Electricity Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUADABAI, Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies), with a secondary code of IMAFAHAC, Distribution Network Construction (Feeders, Laterals, Service Drops). Its NAICS code is 221122 and its SIC code is 4911.