He's visited thousands of school children in the Tauranga and wider Bay of Plenty region. Now he's impressed the judges of the country's premier awards for the energy industry.

Powerco's safety mascot Sparky, who's visited more than 40 Bay schools, is a finalist in the Community Initiative of the Year category of this year's Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards.

Powerco's School Safety Programme, fronted by mascot Sparky, has been named a finalist for the Community Initiative of the Year award in this year's Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards. Photo: File

Sparky and his Powerco helpers visit schools to teach children what to do if they see dangerous sections of network, accidently kick a ball into a substation and other potentially life threatening situations.

He also has his own website sparky.co.nz which features interactive and informative games and activities that teach children how to keep safe around the electricity network, all while having fun.

Chief executive Nigel Barbour says the school campaign was one of three entries submitted by Powerco this year, all of which have been named finalists in their respective categories.

'It's recognition of the hard-working, talented and innovative people we have here at Powerco. It's a great achievement,” says Nigel.

Powerco's public safety campaign is in the running for the Health and Safety Initiative of the Year award, while gas asset strategy manager Nicolas Vessiot has also been a finalist in the new Energy Engineer of the Year category.

Powerco is New Zealand's second largest electricity utility and largest gas distribution utility with around 435,000 consumers connected to its networks.

HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

• Contact Energy – Start Small, Think Big
• Powerco – Public Safety Campaign
• StayLive – A collaborative, industry-wide approach

ENERGY ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

• Contact Energy – Brendan Bleasdale
• Powerco – Nicolas Vessiot
• Transpower – Marshall Clark
• University of Auckland – Rosalind Archer

COMMUNITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

• King Country Energy – Tree of Light: Em-POWER-ing a rural community in need
• Powerco – School Safety Programme
• PowerNet – Saving Lives Together – A community partnership with St John
• Shell New Zealand – Helping Kokako sing again in Taranaki!