In 2025, the average cost of electricity for residential use was around ***** New Zealand cents per kilowatt-hour. This was a slight increase in the cost of electricity reported in the previous year. New Zealand’s electricity consumption While the leading sector to consume electricity in New Zealand is the residential sector, the industrial electricity consumption follows closely. A slight decrease in consumption has been observed in both sectors. Although the main primary energy supply of New Zealand is sourced from oil, the electricity generation of the country has already become much greener. New Zealand uses an increasing share of renewable energy in its electricity sector, with over ***percent of the electricity production generated by renewable energy. Leading energy source: Hydropower In the distribution of energy sources used for electricity production, hydroelectric power plants generated more than half of the country's electricity. The production of electricity from hydropower has been rising significantly, only experiencing a slight decrease in 2024, while the country saw a decline in the use of fossil fuels. The increased use of hydropower can also be linked to climate change. In 2022, New Zealand experienced the warmest and wettest year on record, resulting in high hydrolake inflows.

In 2025, the average cost of electricity for commercial use was around ***** New Zealand cents per kilowatt hour. This represented an increase in the electricity cost in that sector compared with the previous year.

New Zealand NZ: Industry Electricity Price: USD per kWh data was reported at 0.090 USD/kWh in 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.090 USD/kWh for 2022. New Zealand NZ: Industry Electricity Price: USD per kWh data is updated yearly, averaging 0.070 USD/kWh from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.100 USD/kWh in 2021 and a record low of 0.060 USD/kWh in 2001. New Zealand NZ: Industry Electricity Price: USD per kWh data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.OECD.GGI: Environmental: Environmental Policy, Taxes and Transfers: OECD Member: Annual.

In 2025, the average cost of electricity for industrial use was around ***** New Zealand cents per kilowatt hour. This was an increase in the electricity cost compared to the previous year.

The Electricity Retailing industry in New Zealand has experienced a challenging five-year period, marked by volatile wholesale markets, relatively flat demand growth and tightening margins. Between 2020-21 and 2022-23, surging wholesale electricity prices created significant cost pressures for retailers, particularly those without generation assets. While retail electricity prices have risen in recent years, they’ve failed to keep pace with earlier wholesale price spikes, leading to a drop in profit margins across the industry. Industry revenue is expected to climb at a modest annualised rate of 2.2% over the five years through 2025-26 to reach $9.8 billion. This includes an anticipated 2.2% rise in 2025-26, driven by stronger demand from households and businesses and modest increases in retail tariffs. Higher billed volumes, supported by recent capacity additions and steady consumption growth, have more than offset the drag from easing wholesale prices. Vertically integrated gentailers like Meridian Energy and Mercury have performed better than standalone retailers. These gentailers have leveraged their renewable generation portfolios to buffer their retail businesses from market volatility, generating strong wholesale returns during periods of tight supply. Both companies have also been early movers in bundling electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions with retail offers, capturing emerging high-margin load segments and strengthening customer loyalty. In contrast, non-gentailers have faced a greater margin squeeze and intensified price-based competition. Regulatory settings have influenced industry dynamics. While distribution and transmission charges remain regulated by the Commerce Commission, the current weighted average cost of capital review has slowed increases in network costs, providing some relief to retailers. However, tighter regulation and the repeal of the low fixed charge tariff regime have shifted pricing dynamics, with retailers adjusting strategies to remain competitive. Looking ahead, industry revenue is forecast to jump at an annualised 2.8% over the five years through 2030-31 to reach $11.2 billion. The stronger outlook reflects rising household and business electricity use as electric vehicles become more common and the population grows, along with modest retail tariff increases to fund network upgrades. Smart meters and enhanced digital platforms will continue to engage customers more deeply in their energy consumption, lifting overall sales. However, with wholesale costs easing and competition intensifying, retailers will need to offer tailored plans, demand response programs and seamless digital experiences to lock in loyalty and boost profitability.

New Zealand NZ: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data was reported at 9,026.321 kWh in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9,089.620 kWh for 2013. New Zealand NZ: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 7,901.295 kWh from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2014, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,700.091 kWh in 2006 and a record low of 2,457.205 kWh in 1960. New Zealand NZ: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Electric power consumption measures the production of power plants and combined heat and power plants less transmission, distribution, and transformation losses and own use by heat and power plants.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted Average; Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

New Zealand NZ: Electricity Production From Oil Sources: % of Total data was reported at 0.002 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.016 % for 2014. New Zealand NZ: Electricity Production From Oil Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 0.052 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.018 % in 1974 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2002. New Zealand NZ: Electricity Production From Oil Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Oil refers to crude oil and petroleum products.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

The Ministry monitors national residential electricity costs using information about national electricity sales (essentially total electricity sales divided by the quantity of electricity supplied in kWh).

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: OECD Groups: Energy (Fuel, Electricity, and Gasoline): Total for New Zealand (CPGREN01NZA657N) from 1960 to 2022 about New Zealand, fuels, electricity, energy, gas, CPI, price index, indexes, and price.

New Zealand Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: HU: Household Energy: Electricity data was reported at 3.620 % in Jun 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 3.620 % for Mar 2018. New Zealand Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: HU: Household Energy: Electricity data is updated quarterly, averaging 3.910 % from Jun 2006 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 49 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.030 % in Jun 2017 and a record low of 3.290 % in Mar 2008. New Zealand Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: HU: Household Energy: Electricity data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics New Zealand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.I004: Consumer Price Index: Weights.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: OECD Groups: Energy (Fuel, Electricity, and Gasoline): Total for New Zealand (CPGREN01NZQ657N) from Q1 1960 to Q3 2023 about New Zealand, fuels, electricity, energy, gas, CPI, price index, indexes, and price.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (COICOP 04): Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels: Total for New Zealand (NZLCP040500GPQ) from Q1 1960 to Q3 2023 about water, New Zealand, fuels, electricity, gas, CPI, price index, indexes, and price.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (COICOP 04): Total for New Zealand (NZLCP040000IXNBQ) from Q2 2006 to Q3 2023 about water, New Zealand, fuels, electricity, gas, CPI, price index, indexes, and price.

New Zealand NZ: Electricity Production From Hydroelectric Sources: % of Total data was reported at 55.494 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 55.877 % for 2014. New Zealand NZ: Electricity Production From Hydroelectric Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 71.943 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 85.390 % in 1967 and a record low of 50.951 % in 2008. New Zealand NZ: Electricity Production From Hydroelectric Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Hydropower refers to electricity produced by hydroelectric power plants.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

Actual value and historical data chart for New Zealand Access To Electricity Percent Of Population

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (COICOP 04): Maintenance and Repairs of the Dwellings: Total for New Zealand (NZLCP040300GPQ) from Q1 1994 to Q3 2023 about repair, maintenance, water, New Zealand, fuels, electricity, gas, CPI, price index, indexes, and price.

The New Zealand Renewable Energy Market Report is Segmented by Technology (Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Hydropower, Bioenergy, Geothermal, and Ocean Energy) and End-User (Utilities, Commercial and Industrial, and Residential). The Market Sizes and Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Installed Capacity (GW).

New Zealand: Wind electricity generation, percent: The latest value from 2023 is 8.13 percent, an increase from 6.7 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 5.36 percent, based on data from 185 countries. Historically, the average for New Zealand from 1980 to 2023 is 2.01 percent. The minimum value, 0 percent, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 8.13 percent was recorded in 2023.

In March 2025, the average electricity supply meter import price amounted to $103 per unit, reducing by -34.6% against the previous month.

Market Size statistics on the Electricity Transmission and Distribution industry in New Zealand