Electricity affordability: Insights from the wānanga

On Wednesday 21 May, we hosted a wānanga with representatives from the electricity industry, government agencies, and consumer advocacy groups to discuss consumer affordability - both now and in the future. This vital kōrero explored the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of energy consumers in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Affordability today

Consumer advocates led the morning session, highlighting the growing financial hardship, particularly for the "squeezed middle". They emphasised that, as electricity prices continue to rise, vulnerable consumers will need the most support.

Retailers and government agencies shared proactive steps they are taking to assist those in financial difficulty. They also underscored the importance of building trust through meaningful community engagement, which can unlock real benefits for consumers.

This session generated a wealth of ideas and potential responses to these challenges, and we’re eager to collaborate in bringing some of these to life.

Affordability in the future

In the afternoon, discussions shifted to envisioning a more decentralised and localised electricity system, connected through a strong grid backbone. We shared insights on the benefits of decentralisation and explored its potential to transform the sector by 2040.

By 2040, this more localised system can unlock more affordable, clean, secure, and resilient energy for Aotearoa New Zealand. This will empower people and communities and contribute to regional and community-led economic growth.

To bring this vision to life, attendees engaged in an interactive exercise, considering this future through six distinct consumer personas. These included a medically dependent pensioner, a dairy farmer managing multiple ICPs, an industrial cold-store owner, and a local council representative.

Through these lenses, groups examined the values, needs, and pain points experienced by each persona. They then developed conceptual future solutions, assessed different stakeholder perspectives, and identified potential barriers and enabling actions required to implement these ideas.

Looking ahead

It was inspiring to see participants embrace the challenge of imagining a future electricity system and stepping into the shoes of diverse consumers. This kōrero truly brought to life the opportunities and challenges outlined in our Working together to meet the needs of New Zealanders green paper - submissions close Wednesday 4 June.

We encourage continued contributions to the dialogue on decentralisation and look forward to hosting the next wānanga later this year.