Say hello to Counties Energy – Our energy future is here
From Franklin Electric Power Board to Counties Power, and now to Counties Energy, this evolution reflects the changing needs of energy consumers today, and into the future, with the adoption of smart technologies and increasing need and expectations for decarbonisation from customers.
Counties Energy Chief Executive Judy Nicholl says the new name and brand has been designed to reflect both the company’s long history and its new energy journey, with its focus on smart grid technologies and customer-focused energy ecosystems such as virtual power plants and community energy schemes that utilise electric vehicle charging, renewable energy and cutting-edge digital technologies.
How we use energy as a community and as a country is changing. The way our energy is generated is also on a new trajectory, one that protects our future environment and generations. To meet these changes, we must innovate to ensure our community and New Zealand, thrives. As a consumer-owned electricity distribution company, we’ll continue to make much broader decisions across our network and beyond, in a smarter, safer, more reliable and affordable way – and our new name reflects this.
Today you’ll see our new look and feel come to life with a dynamic and bright new identity to communicate our innovative direction and refreshed values that provide renewed energy in our people and which help radiate the combined force we need to enable better energy outcomes for our people and our planet. We’re already starting to shape tomorrow, today.” — Judy Nicholl, Counties Energy Chief Executive
The company’s dedicated teams remain the same, along with their commitment to the community and to keeping the power flowing around the clock. Lowering emissions and creating smaller carbon footprints through sustainable technologies is becoming an increasing focus for the organisation. Positive changes in how to produce and use energy are underway, including their ground-breaking Vehicle-to-Grid technology pilot, electric vehicle charging platform OpenLoop and the Second-life EV Battery System which repurposes retired electric vehicle batteries.
From today the company officially introduces its new name and brand across its channels including customer contact points, website and social media. In a nod to the company’s long history and brand, a reimagined infinity symbol has been integrated into the new logo, which along with a gradient of bright new colours, symbolises an exciting and constantly evolving energy future. Other touch points of the company’s new identity will progressively update while keeping practicality, cost and sustainability in mind.
Say hello to Counties Energy – Energy Reimagined.
Notes:
Photo: Counties Energy Chief Executive Judy Nicholl with the new Counties Energy identity at the company’s Pukekohe head office
About Counties Energy
Counties Energy has managed and operated the energy distribution network in and around the Counties area for almost 100 years. They’re also 100% consumer owned. That means all shares in the company are held by the trustees of the Counties Power Consumer Trust on behalf of all local power consumers. They receive power from the national grid at Bombay and Glenbrook and transport it to local people via substations and an extensive network of lines, cables, transformers and other equipment. They have a total asset base of around $460m and revenue of $136m. Website: www.countiesenergy.co.nz.
In February the company announced EECA funding had been granted for two new projects around smart vehicle-to-grid technology integrated with solar generation and EV charging.
The company announced in December 2020 it was working with Australian battery technology company Relectrify to deploy New Zealand’s largest battery system repurposing electric vehicle (EV) batteries to-date. The battery system combined Relectrify’s BMS+Inverter technology with batteries from nine Nissan Leaf electric vehicles to store over 120kWh of energy. For more information here.
It launched electric vehicle charging platform with ECL Group in June 2020 – www.openloop.co.nz.