Our Energy Evolution
Addressing today's demands and evolving tomorrow's possibilities
To guide our customers and communities to transition to a low carbon energy system, Counties Energy will broaden its role to meet the energy needs of its customers and communities through active energy orchestration. However, the uncertain timing and pace of this transition means that we need to start quickly to prepare for the adapting needs of our communities.
Right now, change beyond our control is happening – the world, and people, have started to live very differently. Advancements in technology have enabled greater control over more aspects of our lives as well as the independent way we now live.
The way our energy is sourced and consumed is changing rapidly. A growing number of decentralised renewable generation and storage are being connected directly to the electricity distribution network rather than the transmission grid. These along with electric vehicle charging and other distributed energy resources (e.g. solar and batteries) at mass market scale is creating a need for smarter energy orchestration at the distribution level.
We believe innovative and community focused DNOs are naturally well positioned to transition to DSOs to continue creating and preserving inter-generational value for our people.
Creating Shared Value
As more energy aggregators enter the market to offer flexibility services, customers will be able to monetise their energy savings by deferring power use through incentives offered. These opportunities will only grow as more household appliances are made available for load control including heat pumps, EV chargers. hot water cylinders, customers.
The ways in which we use, produce, and share energy are changing. In short, we are reimagining how energy is viewed as a resource.
On this page, find out more about Counties Energy’s role as a Distribution System Operator (DSO), new and emerging technologies, and the latest network projects and customer trials.
Meeting Customers’ Changing Needs
Being ‘Customer Obsessed’ is the most critical part of our DSO strategy, so that we’re focused on delivering relevant outcomes for our customers, communities and the industry at large. We know that customers are actively looking to decarbonise their energy behaviour and we will need to support those goals via our distribution network.
We realise that a future where customers want more choice around how, and when they consume and/or generate energy will mean that a one-size–fits–all approach to energy distribution services will need to evolve. The distribution network as we know it will need to stretch and flex to allow for dual direction energy flow.
Key benefits to customers from DSO
Using data from smart meters to enable customer choice
While DSOs can’t drive change for customers, they can provide the data that informs their choices. By providing real-time data, customers can see how turning the thermostat down a degree or two on their heat pumps or using the cold wash cycle on their washing machine can lower their electricity consumption and power bills.
Real time, or almost real-time, data also allows customers with sustainability values to align their consumption to renewable generation.
Democratisation of Energy
With energy prices increasing both locally and globally, new energy cooperatives have been growing, most notably in the European Union and backed by legislation. With local communities able to join forces and invest in clean energy, single entities such as renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities can access relevant energy markets on a level-playing field with other market participants.
Some energy communities can choose to invest in and receive a dividend from the electricity fed into the national grid, whilst others invest in battery storage systems that store energy generated off- peak to be used during peak hours by community participants.
In 2023, five solar projects (in Whangārei, Tauranga, Palmerston North, and Christchurch) around New Zealand received funding from the Labour government’s Community Renewable Energy Fund, resulting in the reduction of power bills for residents between 30-50%.
At a marae in Christchurch, a solar PV system was installed to power four kaumātua flats, fostering energy independence and enabling lower power bills. Resilience was also key with the central battery system set up so that key appliances and the internet connection continued to operate in a power outage.
