In addition to the residential and commercial customers in the region, the network also serves the New Zealand Refinery, Golden Bay Cement and the Fonterra dairy plant at Kauri.
Following consultation with the people of the Kaipara and Whangarei Districts between February and June 2012, a decision was made at a public meeting of the Trust for Northpower to remain in consumer ownership.
[4] The Northpower subtransmission and distribution network is connected to the national grid via five Transpower substations located at Bream Bay (close to the Marsden Point Oil Refinery), Dargaville, Maungatapere, Maungaturoto and the suburb of Kensington in Whangarei.
[5] The history of Northpower dates back to 1920 when the Northern Wairoa Hydro Electric Power Board was formed.
The main predecessor organisation was the North Auckland Electric Power Board which commenced operations in 1929.