Following discussions with interested parties, and on further consideration of the package of Energy Competition Task Force initiatives, the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko will now publish an Task Force Initiative 1A update paper in May following receipt of the level playing field submissions.

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is seeking feedback on a proposal to introduce a new electricity industry rule called ‘mandatory non-discrimination obligations’ that the generator-retailers – Genesis, Contact, Meridian and Mercury – would have to follow.

This new rule would prevent the gentailers from giving preferential treatment to their retail arms for hedge contracts. 

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko welcomes feedback on the proposal by 5pm, Wednesday 7 May.

Find out more.

Developers have another opportunity to complete the Electricity Authority's survey about barriers to developing new generation. The survey has been reopened and people are invited to share their views and experiences about progressing new generation developments – whether they were completed, are mid-development or have been cancelled.

The survey will close at 5pm, Monday 12 May 2025.

Find out more and complete the survey.

Stats NZ to release Selected price indexes: April 2025, including electricity price information to April 2025.

Find out more.

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko warmly invites you to attend its next quarterly update with Chief Executive, Sarah Gillies, and the Authority team. An update will be provided on the EA's priority initiatives and focus for 2025. All questions are welcome. 

Register here.

To enhance its monitoring of the over-the-counter (OTC) market the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is proposing to regularly monitor requests for buying contracts and responses to those requests.

The proposal is intended to improve the transparency of, and competition in, the OTC hedge market to drive greater retail competition. Improved retail competition increases downward pressure on electricity prices and provides more choice for consumers.

Submissions are open until 5pm, Monday 26 May 2025.

View consultation

The Commerce Commission will publish its final decision on Transpower's major capex project (MCP) proposal.

Transpower has published a draft version of the Security of Supply Assessment (SOSA) 2025.  

The annual assessment is used by market participants, policy makers and other stakeholders to inform risk management and investment decisions, including about development of new generation and transmission infrastructure. 

Transpower is seeking feedback on the draft 2025 SOSA to consider prior to the final publication which will be no later than 30 June 2025.  

Submissions close Tuesday 3 June 2025. The draft 2025 SOSA and information about how to provide feedback is on Transpower's system operator consultations page. 

The purpose of this green paper is to start the necessary discussion and debate among all electricity stakeholders around decentralisation and the future of our energy system.

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko will use this feedback to help shape our regulatory thinking about what a more decentralised electricity system might look like for New Zealand, how this might benefit consumers, and what might be needed to gain these benefits.

Feedback is due by 5pm on 4 June 2025

Find out more.

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is seeking feedback on a proposal to amend Part 8 of the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 (Code) to address increased frequency variability in New Zealand’s power system. This is caused by the growing amount of variable and intermittent resources, including wind and solar generation.

Feedback on the proposal is due by 5pm, Tuesday 17 June 2025. Decisions will be shared in late 2025.

View consultation

The Offshore Renewable Energy Bill is currently before select committee.

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko aims to release decisions on a working paper which aims to improve settings in relation to power purchase agreements (PPAs). Submissions were due 28 February 2025 and the full consultation was due for release in April (see above). 

Transpower has published a draft version of the Security of Supply Assessment (SOSA) 2025 in May.  

The annual assessment is used by market participants, policy makers and other stakeholders to inform risk management and investment decisions, including about development of new generation and transmission infrastructure. 

Final publication of the paper based n feedback will be no later than 30 June 2025.  

The Government's Review of New Zealand's electricity market, launched in November 2024, is expected to conclude in late June 2025.