Operational performance highlights:
 

• 588,018 electricity network connections, up 1.7% on March 2020
• 116,014 gas network connections, up 2.1% on March 2020
• 8.7% growth of advanced meter fleet since 31 March 2020 (total of 1,822,510 now installed across Aus/NZ)
• More than 360,000 advanced meters now installed in Australian market

Commentary:
 
The nine months to 31 March 2021 have seen Auckland’s growth continue, in turn driving strong network connection numbers across Vector’s electricity and gas networks. In the year to 31 March 2021, total electricity connection numbers grew by 1.7% compared to a year earlier.  Electricity volume for the nine-month period was down 1.6% compared with the same period to 31 March 2020, driven by reduced activity from the industrial and commercial sectors due to COVID-19.
 
Auckland’s continuing growth helped drive an uplift in gas distribution network customers, with a 2.1% increase in total connections compared to 31 March 2020.  Gas distribution volume over the nine months was down 2.8% compared with the corresponding period in the prior year, again driven by reduced activity from the industrial and commercial sectors due to COVID-19. 
 
Vector’s metering business continues to perform in an increasingly competitive market both here and in Australia.  Advanced meter numbers increased by 8.7% on March 2020, with a total fleet of 1,822,510.  We have now installed more than 360,000 advanced meters in Australia.
 
BottleSwap has seen a 2.1% decrease in the number of 9kg bottles swapped in the nine months compared with the prior period to 31 March 2020. This was driven by a significant spike in demand at the start of the COVID-19 alert level 4 lockdown in late March 2020.
 
Natural gas, LPG volumes and Liquigas LPG tolling are down on the March 2020 comparative period, with the 35.3% reduction in natural gas volumes driven primarily by the loss of a large customer in January 2020.
 
On 31 March 2020, Vector completed the sale of its interests in the Kapuni Gas Treatment Plant (KGTP) and co-generation facility. As a result of the sale of KGTP we have changed the methodology of calculating LPG volumes to reflect continuing activities only. LPG volumes include LPG sold by the group’s OnGas business. LPG and natural gasoline sold by KGTP have been excluded as the plant is no longer owned.  Comparatives have been restated.
 
SAIDI minutes for the twelve months ended 31 March 2021 are 21.5% lower than the previous year which is primarily due to significant initiatives to improve network resilience despite ongoing challenges caused by weather events, traffic congestion and vegetation.
 
COVID-19 has impacted Vector’s business operations during the nine months to 31 March 2021, with New Zealand at alert level 2 and Auckland at level 3 for much of the first quarter as well as for shorter periods in the third quarter.  In Australia, our teams have also been impacted by various levels of Government restrictions throughout the period.  As a lifeline utility, Vector has continued to operate essential services during this period across its electricity, gas, fibre and metering businesses.

 

	9 Months ended 31 March
	2021	2020	% change
Electricity
Customers1, 5	588,018	578,106	1.7%
New connections Net movement in customers2	10,990 7,958	9,367 6,981	17.3% 14.0%
Volume distributed (GWh)	6,195	6,296	(1.6%)
SAIDI (minutes) – 12 months to 31 March3
Normal operations – unplanned   Normal operations - planned	86.54 47.54	116.7 50.8	(25.9%) (6.5%)
Major network events	0.0	3.0	N/A
Total	133.9	170.5	(21.5%)
Gas Distribution
Customers1,5	116,014	113,578	2.1%
New connections Net movement in customers2	2,932 2,054	2,647 1,936	10.8% 6.1%
Distribution volume (PJ)	10.5	10.8	(2.8%)
Gas Trading
Natural gas sales (PJ)6	6.6	10.2	(35.3%)
LPG volumes (tonnes)7	32,539	33,392	(2.6%)
9kg LPG bottles swapped8 Liquigas LPG tolling (tonnes)9	530,348 76,934	541,588 86,393	(2.1%)     (10.9%)
Metering
Electricity: advanced meters1, 10	1,822,510	1,677,405	8.7%

1. As at 31 March.
2. Net number of customers added during the period, includes disconnected, reconnected and decommissioned ICPs.
3. SAIDI (minutes) for the 12 months ended 31 March 2021 is an unaudited value and subject to change.
4. SAIDI in relation to normal operations and major network events has been updated in accordance with the DPP3 regulatory guidelines. 
5. Billable ICPs.
6. Excludes gas sold as gas liquids. 
7. The group completed the sale of its interests in the Kapuni Gas Treatment Plant (KGTP) and co-generation facility on 31 March 2020. As a result, we have changed the methodology of calculating LPG volumes to reflect continuing activities only.  LPG volumes include LPG sold by the OnGas business.  LPG and natural gasoline sold by KGTP is now excluded.  Comparatives have been restated to reflect this.
8. Number of 9kg LPG bottles swapped and sold during the year.
9. The group has revised the methodology for Liquigas LPG tolling to reflect new contractual terms and calculates product tolling domestic and exports. Product further tolled in South Island has been removed.
10. The number of advanced meters as at 31 March 2021 includes 175,058 meters managed but not owned by Vector (31 March 2020: 167,165). 

The Excel version can be found at: http://vector.co.nz/news
 
ENDS