WORK

EA Networks is a locally owned co-operative based in Mid Canterbury, owning and operating the region's electricity distribution and advanced fibre optic communications networks. Their mission is vital: to "connect with confidence and power with purpose," creating the reliable foundation the region needs to grow, innovate, and prosper.

The organisation’s ambition was to transform their website into a customer-first digital platform that makes essential services easier to find and simpler to use, while better reflecting the co-operative’s positive regional impact and community roots.

We designed and built the EA Networks website to:

• Showcase a multi-audience offering, balancing the high-intent needs of technical users - such as power retailers and contractors requiring safety data and regulations - with a user-friendly interface for residents seeking outage updates and fibre connections.
• Highlight the brand's community commitment, utilising local imagery and storytelling to shift the perception from a utility provider to a community partner that invests profits back into the region through sponsorships and network resilience.
• Facilitate self-service at scale through the integration of real-time tools, including a live outages map, address-based fibre availability checkers, and streamlined digital forms for new connections, reducing the reliance on manual customer support.
• Navigate future growth with ease, deploying a modern headless CMS architecture (Storyblok) to support diverse content needs and prepare the digital foundation for future innovations, such as dedicated contractor portals and automated customer dashboards.

The EA Networks website embodies the co-operative's dedication to being a "digital-first utility provider". It balances high-functionality requirements - such as load shedding integrations and compliance reporting - with a human-centric design, creating a platform where customers feel supported and informed.

By establishing a robust strategic foundation that supports both critical service delivery and brand storytelling, the website enables EA Networks to future-proof their operations while strengthening the trust and transparency that defines their relationship with Mid Canterbury.