Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards 2015 Finalists Announced

Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards 2015 Finalists Announced

Minister of Energy and Resources Hon Simon Bridges states, “The New Zealand energy sector is an essential part of the country’s infrastructure. It is the key to increasing our national wealth”. Today the announcement of the finalists of the 2015 Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards showcases the great work and talented people from the sector that are contributing to the well-being of our country. Deloitte partner and energy leader Scott McClay says Deloitte, as principal sponsor of the awards, is proud to be associated with celebrating excellence in such an important and rapidly changing industry.

“We congratulate all the finalists announced today, including those from the three new categories for 2015, and are looking forward to the Awards gala in August. At a time when increased competition, new technologies and the growing voice of the consumer are challenging any semblance of business as usual, these finalists are driving success in this dynamic sector.”

All entries and finalists are a reflection of the high calibre of excellence achieved in the New Zealand energy sector. Now in their sixth year, the Awards see a few changes including the addition of new categories and a fresh look for 2015. Like many of the businesses in the energy sector, the Awards have had to adapt to keep pace with the changing and challenging requirements in the sector. The Awards categories for 2015 reflect the areas that the sector aspires to succeed in and covers a wide range of sector participants.

This year, through the Consumer NZ annual energy providers’ survey, New Zealand electricity and gas consumers will be deciding the Consumer NZ Energy Retailer of the Year Award. In a highly competitive market those energy retailers that demonstrate excellence across a number of areas such as customer service and product innovation will be recognised.

There have been two new categories announced this year - Community Initiative of the Year and Large Energy User Initiative of the Year. These new categories encompass an even wider reach of the energy sector, and proved very popular with entrants. Such was the number and quality of entries in the community category that judges have selected four finalists instead of the normal three.

Chairman of the judging panel, Toby Stevenson, says that the standard of entries for the 2015 Awards maintains the high standards set in previous years and the judges had a difficult task selecting finalists.

“The record number of entries received this year is a true testament to the excellent stories to be told about companies and individuals working in energy related activity in New Zealand. We appreciate the effort that goes into preparing an entry and wish to thank all those that entered this year. We are delighted to announce finalists today and wish them well on the night.”

The event is being organised by Freeman Media, publisher of online news and information service Energy News. Organiser Neil Wembridge says that with ticket sales going extremely well, there is a real chance they will sell out so it would be best to get in early to avoid disappointment.

The 2015 Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards finalists are:

Energy Project of the Year – sponsored by ITL

• Contact Energy – Wairākei Investment Programme

• Transpower – North Auckland and Northland Project

• King Country Energy – G5 turbine replacement: Innovation through simplicity

Innovation in Energy Award – sponsored by Gentrack

• Simply Energy – Lowering barriers to entry through innovation

• Unison – Unison’s Mesh Radio Network

• Transpower – emsTradepoint – Advancing physical energy markets

Health & Safety Initiative of the Year – sponsored by Electricity Networks Association

• Shell Todd Oil Services – Zero Harm @ Ruru

• Mainpower – Lone Worker Safety System

• MB Century – How do I know you are competent?

Environmental Initiative of the Year – sponsored by Transfield Worley Power Services

• Transpower – Successfully reducing New Zealand’s SF6 emissions

• Powerco – Gas Environmental Programme

• Mighty River Power – ‘Take Charge’: Powering up on homegrown energy

Community Initiative of the Year – sponsored by PEPANZ

• Mighty River Power & Tauhara North No2 Trust – Mauri Waiariki: Harnessing the life force of geothermal energy for community good

• Meridian Energy – A powerful partnership - KidsCan

• Chevron – Community Learner Driver Programme

• New Zealand Aluminium Smelters – Kakapo recovery programme – Back from the brink: Saving a New Zealand taonga

Young Energy Executive of the Year – sponsored by ABB

• Powerco – Jemma Stevenson

• Shell New Zealand – Kerry Williamson

• DETA Consulting – Jonathan Pooch

Energy Executive of the Year – sponsored by Worley Parsons

• Contact Energy – Mike Dunstall

• Genesis Energy – Albert Brantley

• Simply Energy – Stephen Peterson

Large Energy User Initiative of the Year – sponsored by Element

• ANZ – Small savings in many buildings: Energy efficiency at ANZ (without silver bullets)

• Norske Skog – Minimising the cost of power at the Tasman newsprint mill

• ANZCO Foods – Energy management programme by DETA Consulting for ANZCO Foods

Finalists have not been announced for the Editor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sector, sponsored by MB Century, or the Consumer NZ Energy Retailer of the Year Award. The winner of these categories will be announced on the night.

The Awards night is being held in Auckland at the Langham Hotel on August the 12th to recognise and reward outstanding accomplishment in the New Zealand energy sector.

ENDS

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