MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Unison and TrustPower Connect on Hydro Project

Tuesday 7 February 2012 - Unison and electricity generator, TrustPower, have reached an agreement to connect the proposed Esk Hydro power station to Unison’s Hawke’s Bay Network at Tutira.

This will be the first significant scale generation project in Hawke’s Bay since the Waikaremoana Hydro Scheme, established in 1929.

The TrustPower generation project will provide Unison with an alternative power supply as currently all of Hawke’s Bay’s power is supplied from outside the region, via Transpower’s National Grid.

“This is a substantial project for the region, and will further support our strategy of ensuring security and quality of power supply to our customers,” said Unison Group Chief Executive Ken Sutherland.

The “run of river” scheme diverts water flowing in the Toronui and Rimu tributaries of the Esk River into two penstocks with turbines capable of generating enough power to supply approximately 1,800 homes.

The project was initiated by the owners of the land on which the two streams flow through, and represents the culmination of nearly ten years of collaboration across many divisions of the Unison Group.

Construction of the 14km of 33kV line that will connect Unison to the hydro scheme will commence this month. This line will then connect into Unison’s existing 33 kV line which runs between Tamatea and Tutira, and supplies electricity to households and businesses in Hawke’s Bay.

TrustPower have already commenced construction of the power station, and they expect the scheme to be operational in mid 2013.

ENDS

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