Media release – immediate circulation
11 December 2020
WESCT congratulates The Lines Company on reaching energy award finals
Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust (WESCT) congratulates The Lines Company (TLC) on reaching the finals in two categories of the 2020 Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards.
TLC, which WESCT owns on behalf of local electricity customers, is a finalist in the Outcomes Award and the Young Energy Professional of the Year Award categories.
The Outcomes Award, which is a new category for the 2020 awards, recognises outstanding initiatives for accessible and inclusive products and services that deliver positive outcomes for consumers.
Peter Keeling, Chair of WESCT, says the Trust is very supportive of TLC’s implementation of three key initiatives which address the significant energy hardship that occurs in parts of its network.
These initiatives are the Maru Energy Trust, which helps locals make their homes warmer, drier and healthier; TLC’s Vulnerable Customer Care (VCC) model; and this year’s Covid-19 relief, which included wiping all variable charges during April 2020.
“We’re very proud of the efforts The Lines Company has gone to in addressing energy hardship in our community, and we’re thrilled that these efforts are being recognised at a national level in the Energy Excellence Awards,” Mr Keeling says.
“The Lines Company is an integral part of the community landscape here in the King Country, with the company playing a hugely important role of enabling energy use and keeping our communities connected.”
The energy hardship initiatives TLC has put in place are strongly aligned to WESCT’s core values, which include kaitiakitanga (custodianship) and hapori (community).
The initiatives also demonstrate TLC is acting in accordance with its 2020 Statement of Corporate Intent, which includes WESCT’s expectations (as a diligent shareholder) of how the company should act.
“The WESCT trustees are very pleased with the multiple initiatives TLC has put in place to address the needs of our community. We believe these initiatives place TLC in a strong position in the Outcomes Award category, and we wish them all the very best for taking out top honours in March,” says Mr Keeling.
Jared Murrell, Manager of Network Services at TLC, is one of three finalists in the Young Energy Professional of the Year category, which recognises outstanding individuals aged under 40 working in the energy sector.
Jared has been working at TLC for over 20 years, building up significant experience over that time. His substantial knowledge, leadership skills, unerring focus on quality customer experiences and highly developed technical skills make him an outstanding candidate for the Young Energy Professional of the Year award.
“Jared is an exemplary young professional and a real asset to the team at The Lines Company. We wish him all the best for the awards,” says Mr Keeling.
The annual Energy Excellence Awards provide an opportunity to recognise excellence and achievement in New Zealand’s energy sector, celebrating the industry’s important contribution to society and the economy.
In 2010, TLC was the winner of the Lines Company of the Year category.
