On 1 July 2001 Country Energy was formed by the merger of New South Wales rural-based energy retailers, Great Southern Energy, Advance Energy and Northpower - all statutory 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 of transmission and 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. ==Operations==