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Your electricity explained
Your electricity explained
What does the Electricity Authority do?
We regulate New Zealand’s electricity market.
What is electricity?
Electricity is created when electrons flow through a conducting material, such as the copper or aluminium used in power lines.
What are smart meters?
Electricity meters keep track of how much power you are using. There are either analogue or smart meters.
What are my rights as an electricity consumer?
You need to sign a contract with the electricity retailer you've chosen. This contract protects you and your rights. It’s important to read and understand the terms and conditions.
How do I switch electricity companies
New Zealand has one of the fastest switching times in the world.
How do I generate my own electricity?
Innovations in the electricity sector are providing new ways to generate, store and even sell electricity through technology such as solar panels, small wind turbines, and batteries.
Your power data in your hands
We have made it easy for you to access information about your power.
My power bill
Your bill shows how much power you have used and how much you need to pay.
Why we work on developing the electricity market
Our market development work is important to achieving our statutory objective to promote competition in, reliable supply by and the efficient operation of the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers.
Advisory and technical groups
A number of different groups provide us with specialist independent and technical advice and recommendations.
Market performance and analysis
We monitor the electricity industry for competitiveness, efficiency and reliability to see if any improvements can be made for the long-term benefit of consumers.
EMI
Our electricity market information (EMI) website has a wide range of performance metrics, analytical tools and data available to view or download, for example, retailer market share, monthly switching reports, wholesale final pricing and much more.
Enquiries, reviews and investigations
If an anomalous event or outcome occurs in the market or the broader electricity sector, we investigate it to determine the causes and whether something can or should be done to prevent such an event or outcome from occurring again.
Market Performance publications
The Authority occasionally publishes publications looking into the performance of the electricity market.
Wholesale market
We develop policy, code provisions and systems for the buying and selling of wholesale electricity and for managing security of supply.
Transmission
We determine transmission pricing policy and grid reliability standards.
Distribution
We oversee distributors' interactions with other industry participants and the parts of their operation that have obligations under the Code.
Retail market
We oversee the processes that deal with accuracy of metering, meter reading and customer switching between retailers - including ways to minimise entry barriers to new retailers.
Industry participants
Participants in the electricity industry must register with us and be listed on the industry participant register.
Market operation service providers
We contract a range of market operation service providers to operate the electricity markets.
Act and Regulations
The Electricity Industry Act 2010 allows us to amend the Code and sets out the process we must follow.
The Code
The Code sets out industry participant responsibilities, including our own duties and responsibilities.
Undesirable trading situation (UTS)
In the electricity market, a UTS is an extraordinary event that has threatened the integrity of the wholesale market.
Compliance
We're responsible for ensuring industry participants comply with the Regulations and the Code.
Rulings Panel
The Rulings Panel assists in the enforcement of the Code by dealing with complaints, appeals and disputes under the Code.
Who we are
The Electricity Authority is an independent Crown entity responsible for the efficient operation of the New Zealand electricity market. We are the electricity market regulator.
What we do
We promote competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers.
Strategic planning and reporting
Documents with key strategic statements as to how the Authority will approach its decision making.
Contact us
Contact details for the Electricity Authority
The Electricity Authority promotes competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the New Zealand electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers.