The biggest New Zealand-owned electrical contractor, Northpower, is widening its grip on the top half of the North Island by taking over the contracts of Australian company Energex.
Northpower has offered jobs to most of Energex's 300 staff, who provide planning, design, maintenance, construction and 24-hour fault responseservices for electricity network owners and clients, the Energy Business Review said on its website.
Energex's operations in Warkworth, Mairangi Bay, Penrose, Tokoroa, Matamata, Paeroa, Morrinsville and Whitianga are being absorbed into the Northpower business. Some of the sites will be taken into nearby Northpower bases, and others will be rebranded as Northpower.
Northpower chairman Warren Moyes said the buy-out was "a natural extension of the Northpower operation, in terms of alignment with customers, locations and types of operations".
The two operations were complementary with a similar culture, and Energex staff would be a useful addition to the workforce.
"This purchase has strategic value for Northpower and will contribute to improved service delivery to key clients," he said.
Northpower owns and operates the Whangarei and Kaipara electricity distribution network from Topuni in the south to Hukerenui in the north, with more than 52,000 connected customers and network assets valued at $337 million.
Its profits are re-invested or go to its owner, consumer trust Northpower Electric Power Trust.
Moyes said the Energex buy-out will boost his staff of 800 to more than 1000, allowing for possible redundancies. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Northpower also owns a Perth-based electrical contractor, West Coast Energy.
