Te Aponga Uira
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| Company type | SOE |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electricity generation Electricity retailing |
| Predecessor | Cook Islands Department of Electric Power Supply |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Revenue | CI$21,176,109 (2013)[1] |
| CI$1,643,204 (2013)[1] | |
| Owner | Cook Islands Investment Corporation (100%) |
Number of employees | 54 (2013)[1] |
| Website | teaponga |
Te Aponga Uira O Tumu-Te-Varovaro (TAU) is a Cook Islands electricity generator, distributor and retailer which provides electricity to the island of Rarotonga. It is responsible for 90% of the Cook Islands' electricity generation.[2] It is a state-owned enterprise, wholly owned by the Cook Islands Government through the Cook Islands Investment Corporation.
Te Aponga Uira was established by the Te Aponga Uira O Tumu-Te-Varovaro Act 1991.[3] Structured as a perpetual body corporate, it has the statutory objectives of "provid[ing] energy to all consumers in a reliable and economical manner" while operating in "an efficient and profitable manner having due regard to the interests of the community".[4] Upon its creation it took over the assets and liabilities of the Cook Islands' Department of Electric Power Supply.[5] Originally responsible to the Minister of Energy and with statutory advice functions, control was transferred in 1999 to the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, and a social responsibility requirement was imposed.[6] It must also conform to government policy directives, such as the Cook Islands Renewable Electricity Chart.[2]
The company operates two power stations on Rarotonga:
| Name | Type | Location | Capacity (kW) | Derated Capacity (kW) | Annual generation (average TWh) | Commissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avatiu | Diesel | Avatiu | 12160 | 9760 | [7] | ||
| Te Mana O Te Ra | Solar PV | Avarua | 960 | 960 | 2014 |
The company had a net metering policy in place since November 2009 to encourage the installation of distributed solar generation,[8] but reversed its policy in 2015 over concerns about grid stability.[9]
During the COVID-19 pandemic the company provided free electricity to its domestic users and discounted electricity to businesses.[10]