Country Energy
Encyclopedia
Country Energy is a retail subsidiary of Origin Energy
. The corporation was formally owned by the Government of New South Wales
. It provides natural gas and electricity to retail customers in New South Wales
, Victoria
, Queensland
, South Australia
and the Australian Capital Territory
.
In October 2010, Country Energy sold its natural gas network to Envestra Limited for 108.6 million, which includes 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) of transmission and 1160 kilometres (720.8 mi) of distribution pipelines.
On 15 December 2010, the New South Wales Treasurer, Eric Roozendaal
, announced that the retail division of Country Energy (including the Country Energy brand) was sold to Origin Energy
as part of a A$
3.25 billion deal. As part of the sale of the retail business the electricity distribution division was separated from Country Energy and re-branded as Essential Energy
on 1 March 2011.
2.3 billion. It provides natural gas and electricity to retail customers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. The two contact centres are located in the New South Wales cities of Port Macquarie
and Leeton
.
Origin Energy
-History:Origin Energy was formed in February 2000, as a result of a demerger from the Australian conglomerate Boral Limited, in which the energy business was removed from the building and construction materials business to form the new company....
. The corporation was formally owned by the Government of New South Wales
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
. It provides natural gas and electricity to retail customers in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
.
History
On 1 July 2001 Country Energy merged with Australian Inland rural-based energy retailer, Great Southern Energy owned by the Government of New South Wales. In addition to electricity retailing, Country Energy operated Australia's largest electricity distribution network by area, covering 95% of the area of New South Wales as well as extending into small parts of Queensland and Victoria. It was one of developers of Directlink, a high voltage direct current electricity transmission line between New South Wales and Queensland transmission grids.In October 2010, Country Energy sold its natural gas network to Envestra Limited for 108.6 million, which includes 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) of transmission and 1160 kilometres (720.8 mi) of distribution pipelines.
On 15 December 2010, the New South Wales Treasurer, Eric Roozendaal
Eric Roozendaal
Eric Roozendaal is an Australian politician, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2004. He is a former General Secretary of the Australian Labor Party....
, announced that the retail division of Country Energy (including the Country Energy brand) was sold to Origin Energy
Origin Energy
-History:Origin Energy was formed in February 2000, as a result of a demerger from the Australian conglomerate Boral Limited, in which the energy business was removed from the building and construction materials business to form the new company....
as part of a A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
3.25 billion deal. As part of the sale of the retail business the electricity distribution division was separated from Country Energy and re-branded as Essential Energy
Essential Energy
Essential Energy is a state-owned electricity infrastructure company which owns, maintains and operates the electrical distribution networks for regional New South Wales, covering 95 percent of the state, and the reticulated water network in Broken Hill, New South Wales through Essential Water.It...
on 1 March 2011.
Operations
Country Energy has 870,000 customers, and annual revenues of $Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
2.3 billion. It provides natural gas and electricity to retail customers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. The two contact centres are located in the New South Wales cities of Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Port Macquarie is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, located about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The city is located on the coast, at the mouth of the Hastings River, and has an estimated population of 44,313....
and Leeton
Leeton, New South Wales
Leeton is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Leeton is situated approximately 550 km west of Sydney and 450 km north of Melbourne in the productive Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. Leeton is administered by Leeton Shire Council...
.