Latest news with #ElectricityAuthorityTeManaHiko
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Online Dashboard Shines A Light On Regional Power Prices
Press Release – Electricity Authority Authority General Manager Retail and Consumer Andrew Millar explains: 'We want to support New Zealand households and businesses to make more active, informed decisions about their power use and costs by providing them with better information. The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) has published a new retail price dashboard showing average monthly power bills by region across New Zealand. The Authority developed this dashboard, using pricing data it requires from retailers, to provide price transparency and encourage New Zealanders to get more engaged in choosing their power plan and provider. Authority General Manager Retail and Consumer Andrew Millar explains: 'We want to support New Zealand households and businesses to make more active, informed decisions about their power use and costs by providing them with better information. 'Greater retail price transparency will enable consumers to understand where their power use and costs sit against the average in their region. We hope the new dashboard will encourage people to compare their power use and costs against the averages and see if there's an opportunity to reduce their power bill. 'We want New Zealanders to be empowered to switch their power plan or company if they believe they could be getting a better deal, either by calling their retailer and asking for other available plans or by using Powerswitch to compare retailers,' Millar says. The Authority sought price increase information from retailers in response to this year's increased in lines charges. There are large regional differences in these increases, with average households seeing $10 per month increases and some rural regions facing increases of up to $25 per month. The Authority used its monitoring powers to require retailers to provide details of any planned price increases by region after 1 April, and ongoing monthly updates. 'We think it's important to understand the impact these increased lines charges have had on power bills by region and to make this information publicly available,' says Millar. 'It also important that if households and small businesses are concerned about the impact of higher prices that they get in touch with their retailer to discuss what support options are available to them.'
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Online Dashboard Shines A Light On Regional Power Prices
The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) has published a new retail price dashboard showing average monthly power bills by region across New Zealand. The Authority developed this dashboard, using pricing data it requires from retailers, to provide price transparency and encourage New Zealanders to get more engaged in choosing their power plan and provider. Authority General Manager Retail and Consumer Andrew Millar explains: "We want to support New Zealand households and businesses to make more active, informed decisions about their power use and costs by providing them with better information. "Greater retail price transparency will enable consumers to understand where their power use and costs sit against the average in their region. We hope the new dashboard will encourage people to compare their power use and costs against the averages and see if there's an opportunity to reduce their power bill. "We want New Zealanders to be empowered to switch their power plan or company if they believe they could be getting a better deal, either by calling their retailer and asking for other available plans or by using Powerswitch to compare retailers," Millar says. The Authority sought price increase information from retailers in response to this year's increased in lines charges. There are large regional differences in these increases, with average households seeing $10 per month increases and some rural regions facing increases of up to $25 per month. The Authority used its monitoring powers to require retailers to provide details of any planned price increases by region after 1 April, and ongoing monthly updates. "We think it's important to understand the impact these increased lines charges have had on power bills by region and to make this information publicly available," says Millar. "It also important that if households and small businesses are concerned about the impact of higher prices that they get in touch with their retailer to discuss what support options are available to them."
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Energy Competition Task Force Roadmap To Reward Industrial Demand Flexibility
Press Release – Electricity Authority The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (the Authority) is seeking feedback on an industrial demand flexibility issues and options paper that sets out the vision and roadmap. The paper seeks input into how best to unlock more industrial demand flexibility. The Energy Competition Task Force (the Task Force) has today set out its proposed vision and roadmap for unlocking industrial demand flexibility. The aim is to better support electricity market reliability and benefit consumers by promoting a competitive, reliable, and efficient electricity industry. The Task Force has also released an update paper on its power purchase agreements (PPAs) work to support more new intermittent generation development, such as wind and solar. Industrial demand flexibility The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (the Authority) is seeking feedback on an industrial demand flexibility issues and options paper that sets out the vision and roadmap. The paper seeks input into how best to unlock more industrial demand flexibility. This could include payments to industrial consumers to reduce demand for short periods, where this is efficient and is likely to deliver long-term benefit for consumers. The roadmap proposes 11 actions to better incentivise short-term flexibility in the electricity market from industrial consumers to support both reliability and competition. 'The need for flexibility in our electricity system is becoming increasingly important as the level of intermittent generation – such as from solar and wind – increases and thermal generation declines,' says Commerce Commission Chair and Task Force member, Dr John Small. 'Currently, bigger electricity users might adjust their demand to avoid paying high costs for energy, but we believe in certain circumstances it may be appropriate to pay them to provide that flexibility. This could help these consumers to plan and invest with more certainty, while also supporting electricity supply reliability for the longer term,' says Small. Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko Chair and Task Force member Anna Kominik says: 'Industrial demand flexibility can be particularly useful during times of very high demand and tight supply, such as winter mornings and in the evenings. Its potential is expected to grow over time, including as new industrials come online, such as new industries and data centres particularly those optimised for this form of flexibility. 'We know that electricity supply is currently very tight, so we've identified two actions that could be in place ahead of winter 2026. We'll shortly seek input from stakeholders on a proposed Emergency Reserve Scheme and intend to set up an industry co-design group process to develop a standardised tradeable product for industrial demand flexibility. 'We are proposing nine further actions over the next five years to help lay the foundations for efficient use of demand flexibility across the electricity system – and we're interested to hear stakeholder views on these,' said Kominik. Power purchase agreements The Task Force has considered submitters' feedback and determined that its initial proposal to allocate firming for PPAs is not the best way to encourage investment in new power generation projects. The Task Force has identified this option risks distortions to efficient market operations, which could negatively impact investment in new generation and lead to higher prices for consumers in the long term. Instead, the Task Force considers access to firming is best addressed via ongoing work on standardised flexibility products and the proposed level playing field measures (particularly the non-discrimination obligations), as well as complementary initiatives to encourage PPAs. These options enable new investment without the risks associated with allocation. This new approach is set out in an update paper. Visit the Task Force webpage for more information about both papers and details on how to have your say on the industrial demand flexibility consultation. Notes: About the Energy Competition Task Force The Energy Competition Task Force was established by the Commerce Commission Te Komihana Tauhokohoko and Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko in August 2024 to investigate ways to improve the performance of the electricity market. The Task Force has been considering eight initiatives that will encourage more and faster investment in new electricity generation, boost competition, enable homes, businesses and industrials to better manage their own electricity use and costs, and put downward pressure on prices. Firming Firming refers to technology used to store and release intermittent energy, usually either hydro storage or batteries. PPAs PPAs are long-term contracts to support generation. They can provide a route to market for entrant generators and an alternative procurement option for electricity buyers or traders.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Energy Competition Task Force Roadmap To Reward Industrial Demand Flexibility
The Energy Competition Task Force (the Task Force) has today set out its proposed vision and roadmap for unlocking industrial demand flexibility. The aim is to better support electricity market reliability and benefit consumers by promoting a competitive, reliable, and efficient electricity industry. The Task Force has also released an update paper on its power purchase agreements (PPAs) work to support more new intermittent generation development, such as wind and solar. Industrial demand flexibility The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (the Authority) is seeking feedback on an industrial demand flexibility issues and options paper that sets out the vision and roadmap. The paper seeks input into how best to unlock more industrial demand flexibility. This could include payments to industrial consumers to reduce demand for short periods, where this is efficient and is likely to deliver long-term benefit for consumers. The roadmap proposes 11 actions to better incentivise short-term flexibility in the electricity market from industrial consumers to support both reliability and competition. "The need for flexibility in our electricity system is becoming increasingly important as the level of intermittent generation - such as from solar and wind - increases and thermal generation declines," says Commerce Commission Chair and Task Force member, Dr John Small. "Currently, bigger electricity users might adjust their demand to avoid paying high costs for energy, but we believe in certain circumstances it may be appropriate to pay them to provide that flexibility. This could help these consumers to plan and invest with more certainty, while also supporting electricity supply reliability for the longer term," says Small. Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko Chair and Task Force member Anna Kominik says: "Industrial demand flexibility can be particularly useful during times of very high demand and tight supply, such as winter mornings and in the evenings. Its potential is expected to grow over time, including as new industrials come online, such as new industries and data centres particularly those optimised for this form of flexibility. "We know that electricity supply is currently very tight, so we've identified two actions that could be in place ahead of winter 2026. We'll shortly seek input from stakeholders on a proposed Emergency Reserve Scheme and intend to set up an industry co-design group process to develop a standardised tradeable product for industrial demand flexibility. "We are proposing nine further actions over the next five years to help lay the foundations for efficient use of demand flexibility across the electricity system - and we're interested to hear stakeholder views on these," said Kominik. Power purchase agreements The Task Force has considered submitters' feedback and determined that its initial proposal to allocate firming for PPAs is not the best way to encourage investment in new power generation projects. The Task Force has identified this option risks distortions to efficient market operations, which could negatively impact investment in new generation and lead to higher prices for consumers in the long term. Instead, the Task Force considers access to firming is best addressed via ongoing work on standardised flexibility products and the proposed level playing field measures (particularly the non-discrimination obligations), as well as complementary initiatives to encourage PPAs. These options enable new investment without the risks associated with allocation. This new approach is set out in an update paper. Visit the Task Force webpage for more information about both papers and details on how to have your say on the industrial demand flexibility consultation. Notes: About the Energy Competition Task Force The Energy Competition Task Force was established by the Commerce Commission Te Komihana Tauhokohoko and Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko in August 2024 to investigate ways to improve the performance of the electricity market. The Task Force has been considering eight initiatives that will encourage more and faster investment in new electricity generation, boost competition, enable homes, businesses and industrials to better manage their own electricity use and costs, and put downward pressure on prices. Firming Firming refers to technology used to store and release intermittent energy, usually either hydro storage or batteries. PPAs PPAs are long-term contracts to support generation. They can provide a route to market for entrant generators and an alternative procurement option for electricity buyers or traders.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Electricity Authority Welcomes Plan To Empower Consumers And ‘Make NZ More Electric'
The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) welcomes the manifesto released by Rewiring Aotearoa today detailing 59 actions to help households, businesses and farms switch to electric alternatives. According to Rewiring Aotearoa, these actions will help consumers access cheaper, cleaner power and the electricity system will be strengthened by more consumer energy resources, such as rooftop solar. "We are working to deliver an electricity system that empowers consumers, supports electrification, and is reliable, secure and delivered at the lowest cost," says Authority Chief Executive Sarah Gillies. "We have work underway to boost security of supply, encourage more flexibility in the system, enable consumers to have greater control over their electricity use and costs, and create a more efficient electricity system. "We agree with Rewiring Aotearoa that New Zealand's centralised electricity system can be complemented by more localised energy resources. Power generated at a local level can enhance resilience to climate change impacts, improve affordability, progress decarbonisation and empower communities and local economies. Our Decentralisation green paper aims to start a discussion about how we can move towards this future in a way that ensures people and communities benefit." The Authority also has multiple, inter-related projects underway that could support more solar from as early as next year. For example, it is currently considering rule changes that would ensure fairer prices for consumers with solar when they supply power to the network at peak times. "The electricity system is in a period of substantial change. The Authority is taking action, alongside others, to enable this change and ensure the system is fit-for-the-future and works for New Zealanders," Gillies said. Notes: Other Authority work aligned with Rewiring Aotearoa's Electrification Manifesto includes: proposing rule changes to enable consumers to have contracts with multiple electricity retailers. For example, a household could be with the retailer that offers the best buy-back for solar they supply to the network, and another retailer for their electricity use. Consultation on proposed rule changes is scheduled for late May. Once in place, future rule changes will also enable peer-to-peer energy trading and for consumers to have separate retailers for selected appliances, such as their EV charger. enabling easier retail switching by improving comparison and switching services and tools for consumers, including working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to develop a potential electricity consumer data right. making it easier for businesses and infrastructure, such as EV charging stations, to connect to the networks through our proposed rule changes for connection pricing methodologies and application process. empowering consumers to better manage their electricity costs, eg, through proposed rule changes that would require large retailers to offer customers a time-of-use pricing plan. enabling more flexibility in the system across multiple workstreams, which can help keep costs down by avoiding the need for costly network infrastructure upgrades. The Electricity Authority is an independent Crown Entity with the main statutory objective to promote competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers. The additional objective of the Authority is to protect the interests of domestic consumers and small business consumers in relation to the supply of electricity to those consumers.
