Awards finalists named

4 Jun 2025

Almost 40 firms, individuals and community groups are named among the 31 finalists selected for this year's Energy Excellence Awards.

Harsharan Singh, chair of this year's judging panel, says this year's entries highlight a powerful theme: meaningful partnerships delivering long-lasting benefits for customers, communities and the environment.

"Each year, we're inspired by the sector's ingenuity and problem-solving," says Singh, operations manager at Ventia's energy networks and renewables business.

"What stands out in 2025 is the scale of collaboration - organisations working together to create enduring outcomes for the people they serve."

The 2025 finalists are:

Community Initiative of the Year - sponsored by Eagle Technology

  • Beach Energy - Building community capability to reduce homelessness
  • Mercury - Delivering lasting customer care with community
  • Todd Energy - Otaraua Hapū and Todd Energy business partnership initiative

Innovation in Energy Award - sponsored by Ara Ake

  • Contact - Innovation in geothermal well formation cleaning
  • Mercury - Digital River
  • The Lines Company + Lakeview Helicopters - Helisaw operations - an industry game changer

Large Energy User Initiative of the Year - sponsored by EECA

  • Alsco Uniforms - Alsco Uniforms coal-free journey
  • Fonterra + Transpower - Fonterra Edendale electrode boiler & special protection scheme
  • Meridian Energy & Rio Tinto - Rio Tinto | NZAS & Meridian Energy demand response agreement

Low Carbon Future Award - sponsored by Energy Resources Aotearoa

  • Ecotricity, Endless Energy + Tātaki Auckland Unlimited - Electrifying the NZ Warriors and Auckland FC
  • Meridian - Community decarbonisation fund
  • Westpower - Transforming Transformers - More than meets the eye

Energy Distributor of the Year - sponsored by Axos Systems

  • Northpower - Demonstrating excellence by connecting communities, building futures, for Northland
  • Powerco - Innovating and collaborating for a successful transition
  • Westpower - Leading the way

Energy Project of the Year - sponsored by Bluecurrent

  • Contact - Tauhara: A world-class renewable energy project
  • Endless Energy, Ecotricity, Calder Stewart - Reverse 144 nationwide roll out
  • Transpower - HVDC Pole 2 Midlife Extension Programme

Social Procurement Award - sponsored by Elemental Group

  • Lightyears Solar - Commitment to social procurement
  • Northpower - Northpower cadetships and social procurement - building futures and strengthening communities
  • Seven Rivers - Building energy resilience across Tairāwhiti schools

Well-being Award - sponsored by Hiko Energy Insights

  • Powerco - Embedding te Whare Tapa Whā into leadership development
  • The Lines Company - Wellbeing at The Lines Company
  • Westpower - The Westpower/ElectroNet Group well-being ecosystem

Young Energy Professional of the Year - sponsored by Phoenix Recycling Group

  • Clarus - James Irvine, general manager - future fuels
  • Contact - Jeremy MacIver, head of commercial
  • Ergo Consulting - Soumya Doar, head of power systems/principal engineer
  • Meridian - Yanosh Irani, head of data performance

Energy Retailer of the Year - sponsored by EDMI

  • Genesis
  • Octopus Energy
  • Powershop

This year's awards ceremony, the 15th, will be held at Tākina Wellington, on Wednesday, 13 August.

Event organiser and Energy News owner Freeman Media this year named NBR as media partner for the awards.

Following a refresh of the award categories, the Energy Project of the Year and Energy Distributor of the Year also return this year, drawing strong competition from across the industry.

Many of the 2025 entries reflect a deep commitment to customer and community wellbeing, the organisers say.

Finalists have delivered programmes that not only support but also educate and empower - often in partnership with frontline organisations - to create life-changing impact.

Technology and collaboration remain central to progress in electrification, decarbonisation, energy efficiency and demand response.

Finalists in the Young Energy Professional of the Year category continue to impress with their leadership, innovation and career achievements to-date.

Judges, sponsors

Joining Singh on the judging panel are incumbents Sapere Research Group director Toby Stevenson, independent consultant John Hancock, chief executive of Water New Zealand Gillian Blythe, strategy and management consultant Carmen Blackler, Enerlytica director and head of research John Kidd, Genesis business development manager - Biomass Dave Binnie, and Carbon Match director Lizzie Chambers.

On-the-night support will come from table display sponsor Gentrack and after-party sponsor Anderson Lloyd.

The awards programme is also supported by: ERANZ, GasNZ, Mana Wāhine I Power Women, Electricity Networks Aotearoa, Electricity Engineers' Association, New Zealand Wind Energy Association, Major Electricity Users' Group, Carbon and Energy Professionals New Zealand, and the Young Energy Professionals Network.