Changes to our pricing from 1st April
We are all feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis. To support our consumers, on average, our prices are staying the same.
To achieve this, we are absorbing the 200% increase in transmission costs and 7% inflation.
This supports our goal on delivering affordable pricing to our consumers.
More detail on our Electricity line charges can be found under Publications and Disclosures.
Why does a unit of electricity cost more in the Far North?
Our electricity network covers over 4,000 kilometres and is largely rural.
Our network covers a land mass roughly the same size of the Kaipara and Whangarei regions combined but we have fewer people to contribute to the cost of power lines, poles and equipment maintenance.
We use less electricity in the Far North compared to other regions.
Our winters are warmer, and many heat their homes with wood burners. On average, we only use 5,500 units of electricity a year compared to a national average of around 8,000 meaning that less power goes through the lines to pay for the network maintenance. This means other regions who use more units pay more overall
each month, but the unit cost is less.
What are we doing about it?
Our goal is to move from a high-cost to a low-cost company by 2030, while keeping the current level of reliability. In fact, we want to be in the bottom quarter cost-wise in the country.
In November, we surveyed 1,000 customers to make sure our goal is in line with the needs of our community. 74% agreed with our goal. 81% would not be prepared to pay more for improved reliability. So, we are on the right track and well on the way, especially since we have reduced our pricing 23% over the last three years.
Are you on the right pricing plan?
Visit www.powerswitch.org.nz to compare pricing plans