Centralines reports solid year focused on reliability, resilience and community
Centralines has released its 2026 Annual Report, highlighting a year of focused delivery, continued investment in network resilience, and strong support for the Central Hawke’s Bay community.
The year was shaped by a clear strategic focus on delivering a safe, reliable and resilient electricity network, while preparing for the opportunities and challenges of New Zealand’s evolving energy landscape.
Centralines Chair Fenton Wilson said the result reflects a disciplined approach to asset management and a continued commitment to long-term sustainability.
“This has been a year of purposeful delivery for Centralines. We’ve remained focused on strengthening our network, supporting our community, and positioning the business for the future,” he said.
Despite a challenging economic environment, Centralines delivered a strong financial result, with an after-tax operating profit of $3.5 million. Capital expenditure totalled $9.7 million, and $1.7 million was returned to consumers through discounts.
Significant progress was made on key infrastructure projects, including continued development at the Ruataniwha Substation and upgrades across the network to improve reliability and support future growth. Targeted investment in automation and network improvements has helped reduce outage durations and improve response times for customers.
Centralines also continued to invest in digital innovation, adopting technologies such as drone inspection and advanced fault detection to improve how the network is managed and maintained. These tools support more precise decision-making and help ensure investment is targeted where it delivers the greatest value for customers.
General Manager Isabelle Crawshaw said Centralines remains closely connected to its community and focused on meeting evolving customer needs.
“Our customers and community are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing an efficient, reliable and sustainable electricity supply that supports the wellbeing and growth of Central Hawke’s Bay,” she said.
During the year, Centralines continued its strong programme of community support, including 75 sponsorships totalling $189,000, supporting local organisations, schools and community initiatives. The company also continued to invest in education and skills development to support future workforce capability in the region.
Centralines’ investment in renewable energy also moved into a new phase during the year, with construction getting underway this spring on Hawke’s Bay’s first utility-scale solar farm in partnership with Lodestone Energy. Once operational, the project is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power around 7,000 homes and businesses, while feeding directly into the local Centralines network to support greater regional energy resilience.
“Our industry is changing rapidly, and we are committed to playing an active role in New Zealand’s low-emissions future,” said Crawshaw.
The report also highlights Centralines’ continued focus on safety, workforce capability, and maintaining a high-performing team to support the delivery of essential infrastructure services.
The full 2026 Annual Report is available on the Centralines website: Annual Reports