We regulate New Zealand’s electricity market.
Electricity is created when electrons flow through a conducting material, such as the copper or aluminium used in power lines.
Electricity meters keep track of how much power you are using. There are either analogue or smart meters.
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.
New Zealand has one of the fastest switching times in the world.
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.
We have made it easy for you to access information about your power.
Your bill shows how much power you have used and how much you need to pay.
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.
A number of different groups provide us with specialist independent and technical advice and recommendations.
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.
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.
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.
We develop policy, code provisions and systems for the buying and selling of wholesale electricity and for managing security of supply.
We determine transmission pricing policy and grid reliability standards.
We oversee distributors' interactions with other industry participants and the parts of their operation that have obligations under the Code.
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.
Participants in the electricity industry must register with us and be listed on the industry participant register.
We contract a range of market operation service providers to operate the electricity markets.
The Electricity Industry Act 2010 allows us to amend the Code and sets out the process we must follow.
The Code sets out industry participant responsibilities, including our own duties and responsibilities.
In the electricity market, a UTS is an extraordinary event that has threatened the integrity of the wholesale market.
We're responsible for ensuring industry participants comply with the Regulations and the Code.
The Rulings Panel assists in the enforcement of the Code by dealing with complaints, appeals and disputes under the Code.
This page contains details of High Court Decisions relating to the Authority's compliance function.
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.
We promote competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers.
Documents with key strategic statements as to how the Authority will approach its decision making.
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.
16 Nov
In this Market Commentary, Authority chief executive James Stevenson-Wallace gives observations on what’s been happening in the spot market recently.
15 Nov
The latest monthly statistics show 38,870 New Zealand households changed electricity supplier during October.
15 Nov
In this series, we shine a light on a selection of our staff members. This month we spoke to Julia Hall from the Market Monitoring team.
13 Nov
Recently, we sent a short paper on distribution pricing to the boards of electricity distribution businesses.
13 Nov
We have published a consultation paper seeking feedback on our 2019/20 levy-funded appropriations and indicative work programme.
13 Nov
We have published an Annual Report for the Market Development Advisory Group (MDAG) covering the period July 2017 to June 2018.
13 Nov
We have published an Annual Report for the Innovation and Participation Advisory Group (IPAG) covering the period July 2017 to June 2018.
13 Nov
We have published the Rulings Panel’s Annual Report for the 12 months ending 30 June 2016.
09 Nov
On Thursday, 8 November 2018 we received a claim of an undesirable trading situation (UTS).
08 Nov
Click here to read a short overview of our current thinking on distribution pricing reform.
06 Nov
On 19 October the Authority triggered its trader default process after being alerted to an event of default.
30 Oct
The wholesale electricity market is in a period of high spot prices, which started at the beginning of October.
30 Oct
On 1 November 2018 the majority of the clauses in the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Code Review Programme) 2018 will come into fo...
23 Oct
We’ve had spot pricing (the wholesale market) since October 1996, which many large consumers such as factories have chosen to take advantage of.
23 Oct
We have published the presentations from the Market enhancement omnibus forum held on 9 October 2018.
23 Oct
We have published the submissions received on the proposed lists of distributed generation eligible to receive avoided cost of transmission (ACOT) pay...
23 Oct
We have five places available on the hands-on training course for registry users, which the Authority will run in Wellington on 14-15 November 2018.
18 Oct
Around 300 New Zealand households are installing solar panels each month.
16 Oct
The system operator has proposed further changes to the policy statement that is currently out for consultation.
16 Oct
We have published the papers, including the minutes, from the Innovation and Participation Advisory Group (IPAG) meeting held on 14 June 2018.
16 Oct
We have published the papers, including the minutes, from the Market Development Advisory Group (MDAG) meeting held on 26 June 2018.
13 Oct
Response to a media question about the process for investigating an unusually high power bill that might be caused by a meter issue.
11 Oct
The planned maintenance of our What's My Number website has now been completed. Thank you for your patience.
11 Oct
This outlines our key achievements and includes detailed information about our financial and non-financial performance.
09 Oct
In 13 October 2018 the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Amendments to Certification Reports) 2018, will come into force.
09 Oct
The Authority is calling for nominations for a member of the Innovation and Participation Advisory Group (IPAG).
09 Oct
On Thursday, 11 October we will be undertaking planned maintenance of our What's My Number website from 1pm until around 6pm.
02 Oct
We have received a proposed revision to the policy statement from the system operator.
02 Oct
In September 2017, we consulted on changes to the electricity information exchange protocols (EIEPs).
02 Oct
We have considered submissions on our Code Review Programme 2018 consultation paper, and decided to amend the Code as outlined in the decisions paper.
02 Oct
We are holding a forum to discuss the consultation papers released as the first market enhancement omnibus.
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Trending Documents
Electricity in New Zealand PDF 9.6 MB
The Code - 12 January 2018 PDF 8.5 MB
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The Code
Download entire Code 6.3 MB Version: 1st November 2018
EMAIL: info@ea.govt.nz
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