The Lines Company

What The Lines Company does

The Lines Company Limited (TLC) is a regulated electricity distribution utility incorporated in New Zealand in April 1999 following the government's electricity industry reforms, with roots in distribution services stretching back to 1926. TLC owns and operates the physical network infrastructure — 4,500km of overhead and underground power lines, 35,000 poles, 27 substations, 5,000+ transformers and 8 supply points — across 13,700 sq km of New Zealand's North Island (King Country, Ruapehu and Central Plateau), distributing approximately 369 GWh annually to ~18,000 customers across 24,000 connection points. The company is 100% owned by the Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust (WESCT) on behalf of its 10,000+ beneficiaries, who receive twice-yearly 'TLC Discount' credits on their electricity bills.

The core product is the regulated electricity distribution service billed to retailers (lines charges) under the Commerce Commission's Default Price Path regime; revenue flows through a capacity- and density-tiered pricing structure (LFC, STD, 15, 30, 70, 150 kVA × H/L density × U/C water-heater control), updated each 1 April. Adjacent revenue streams include one-off connection and capital-contribution fees ($500 to $10,400+ depending on extension type), distributed-generation application fees ($100 to $5,000), high-load permits, and a usage-based EV charging network operated through the OpenLoop platform ($0.70/kWh + $1/min for DC fast charging, free AC charging at one site). TLC also runs a load-management service that interrupts controlled appliances (typically hot water cylinders) during peak periods, and provides capacity-related discretionary services such as pricing calculators and outage-portal tools.

TLC has roughly 140 staff (around 80% local to the network) across its Te Kūiti headquarters, Te Kūiti depot, Taumarunui and Tūrangi depots, and the Ohakune depot reopened in June 2025. The company's strategic posture is shifting from a standalone wires business toward collaborative and community-energy models: it sold its metering subsidiary Influx Energy Data to Intellihub in July 2023, launched a Shared Platform and Services partnership with Counties Energy in February 2026, expanded utility-scale generation connections and a regional EV charging corridor, and continues to underwrite community energy resilience initiatives (e.g., Māniaroa Marae Solar, Ruapehu District Council community-housing solar, Ōtorohanga Kiwi House 'Power it Forward'). Head office and depot construction is underway in Te Kūiti, signalling a renewed capital-investment cycle.

Name

The Lines Company

Legal name

The Lines Company Limited

Website

https://thelinescompany.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Lines Company is a regulated New Zealand electricity distribution business serving ~18,000 customers across 13,700 sq km of the North Island (King Country, Ruapehu, Central Plateau), operating 4,500km of lines and 27 substations. It is wholly owned by the Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electricity Distribution Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Network Upgrades & Capacity Additions (Reconductoring, Rebalancing, Voltage Optimization) (EUAEACAN), Distribution Network Construction (Feeders, Laterals, Service Drops) (IMAFAHAC)

Keywords

• Electricity distribution services
• Regulated network utility
• Network connections
• Distributed generation integration
• EV charging infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Otorohanga

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Electricity Lines Charges (Distribution Revenue): TLC bills electricity retailers for the use of its distribution network. Retailers act as agents and incorporate TLC's lines charges into customers' electricity bills. Revenue is regulated by the Commerce Commission under a Default Price Path regime. Revenue is based on connection capacity tiers (LFC, STD, 15, 30, 70, 150 kVA) and density categories (H/L), with daily fixed charges and variable charges per kWh.
2. EV Charging: TLC operates DC fast chargers and AC chargers across its network area. DC fast chargers are priced at $0.70/kWh + $1/min through the OpenLoop platform. One AC charger location (8 King Street, Te Kūiti) is offered free of charge.
3. Distributed Generation Application Fees: TLC charges application fees for processing distributed generation (solar, wind, hydro) connection requests. Small systems (≤10kW) pay $100-$200 + GST; large systems (11kW-100kW) pay $500; 100kW-1MW pay $1,000; >1MW pay $5,000. These are one-time fees.
4. Connection and Capital Contribution Fees: New connection applications, network extensions, and load alterations generate capital contribution revenue. Standard network ready connections cost $500; overhead network extensions cost $5,400; underground extensions cost $10,400; load increases with network upgrades are quoted individually. Non-standard connections require 50% upfront payment.
5. High Load Permit and Work Request Fees: Applicants for high load permits (loads over 4.25m height) are responsible for costs associated with route review and field staff attendance on the day of the journey. Work requests for TLC network services are billed to applicants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Lines Company owns, operates, and maintains the electricity distribution network across the King Country, Ruapehu, and Central Plateau regions of New Zealand's North Island, spanning 13,700 sq km with 4,500 km of power lines, 27 substations, and 5,000+ transformers. It bills electricity retailers for use of its distribution network (lines charges) and provides connection services for residential, commercial, and industrial customers, distributed generation connections (solar, wind, hydro), and operates its own regional EV charging network.

Product overview

The Lines Company operates a single unified electricity distribution network service, providing the infrastructure (poles, powerlines, transformers, substations) to deliver electricity from the national grid to homes and businesses. The service portfolio includes connection services for different customer types (new builds, subdivisions, commercial, industrial/large-scale), distributed generation connections (residential solar and large utility-scale), an EV charging network with DC fast chargers and AC chargers, load management services, and an online pricing calculator. The company is 100% owned by Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust (WESCT) and operates under regulatory oversight from the Commerce Commission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electricity Distribution Network Services

Quantifiable outcome

• ~369 GWh of power supplied per year, equivalent to 46,000 average NZ households
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Counties EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026The Lines Company and Counties Energy launched a Shared Platform and Services partnership in February 2026. The partnership is designed to deliver shared platforms and services between the two electricity distribution companies. The partnership has already delivered its first major milestone as announced in July 2026.
• IntellihubcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 July 2023Intellihub is the Metering Equipment Provider (MEP) for the TLC network area. As of 1 September 2025, TLC no longer installs, replaces, or repairs electricity meters. Metering work is now handled by retailers through Intellihub. In July 2023, TLC sold its subsidiary Influx Energy Data to Intellihub, which included the metering and data business.
• Te NehenehenuicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative between Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (now Te Nehenehenui) and TLC to deploy renewable energy solutions on marae. The Māniaroa Marae Solar Project is an award-winning initiative. Resilience testing of the community energy solutions was conducted in partnership with Te Nehenehenui.
• Maru Energy TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTLC collaborates with Maru Energy Trust on multiple community energy initiatives including winter pyjama appeals, winter wellness packs, and the Power it Forward programme supporting households in need. Maru Energy Trust also receives contributions from TLC. Mike Fox, TLC's CEO, is a trustee of Maru Energy Trust.
• Ruapehu District Council (RDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDC and TLC worked together to deliver a sustainable community housing solar project in Taumarunui in September 2025, installing solar panels on community housing.
• Hakaraia ElectricalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of three licensed contractors operating in the TLC network area that carry out metering work for Intellihub. Contact: 0273 632 568.
• Power 2 U Contracting LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of three licensed contractors operating in the TLC network area that carry out metering work for Intellihub. Contact: 0274 486 353.
• Caskey ElectricalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of three licensed contractors operating in the TLC network area that carry out metering work for Intellihub. Contact: 0274 227 539.
• Ōtorohanga Kiwi HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTLC partnered with Ōtorohanga Kiwi House on the Power it Forward: Kiwi House initiative, a community-backed solar project to support a solar-powered future for the facility.
• Tūwharetoa Health Charitable Trust (THCT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint solar project with THCT and Maru Energy Trust to install solar panels providing power for Tūrangi homes, supporting community resilience.
• OpenLoopcoreTechnology or IntegrationAll TLC DC fast chargers and AC chargers operate through the OpenLoop platform and app, enabling EV drivers to locate and pay for charging across the TLC network area.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Waipa Networks: Waikato/King Country-area NZ EDB operating adjacent to TLC's footprint. Highly comparable mid-sized distribution utility with similar regulatory exposure and customer mix.
• WEL Networks: Waikato-based electricity distribution utility; TLC Chair Bella Takiari-Brame is former GM Finance at WEL, and Director Mike Underhill is a former WEL CEO. Closely comparable community-servicing NZ EDB with similar mix of regulated distribution and customer-side services.
• Powerco: One of New Zealand's largest electricity distributors (gas and electricity), serving Taranaki, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu. Comparable as a regulated NZ EDB operating under Commerce Commission oversight with similar network reliability, EV and DER rollout pressures.
• Northpower: Northland-based NZ EDB and fibre operator; comparable community-anchored distribution utility with a mix of regulated network and adjacent contracting services (Northpower Contracting). Useful comparable for non-regulated diversification strategies.
• Aurora Energy: Otago-based NZ EDB; comparable mid-sized distribution utility in a remote, weather-exposed region with similar quality, capex, and reliability challenges. Useful comparable for capital efficiency in a small-scale distributor.
• Unison Networks: NZ EDB serving Hawke's Bay, Taupo and Rotorua; operates a similar mid-sized regulated distribution network with comparable mix of residential, commercial, industrial, and distributed generation customers.
• Counties Energy: NZ electricity distribution business serving the Counties region south of Auckland; TLC's chosen partner in the Shared Platform and Services partnership. Most directly comparable peer in scale and NZ EDB regulatory framework.
• Electricity Invercargill (Invercargill City Holdings): Southland-based NZ EDB; small-scale, municipally/community-owned distribution utility operating under the same Commerce Commission regime. Strongest comparable for community-ownership structure and scale.

Broad incumbents

• Orion New Zealand: Christchurch-based NZ EDB (Canterbury region); larger than TLC but operates the same DPP-style regulatory framework with comparable network reliability, DER integration, and community engagement programs.
• Vector Limited: Largest NZ electricity distributor (Auckland) and broader multi-utility. Operates in the same regulated EDB framework with overlapping capability in EV charging (Vector Lightspeed), smart metering, and DER integration, but at materially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thelinescompany
• Xx.com/thelinescompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lines-company-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Lines Company