Notes
[ Last Updated 6 October 2008 ]
1.The figures provided through the Quarterly Survey of Domestic Electricity Prices provide an indication of what residential customers are paying for their electricity in different regions based on standard assumptions about usage and metering arrangements. Residential customers are encouraged to visit Consumer PowerSwitch at www.powerswitch.org.nz to find the best retailer for their needs.
2.The survey shows residential retail prices, the lines component, and estimates of retail market share (see notes 13 and 14) of the competing retailers in each region.
3.Calculations are based on a domestic customer consuming 8000 kWh per annum. Although this is close to the nationwide average residential consumption, it may not be representative of the average within individual regions.
4.The information in the schedule is ordered by geographical region. Each network area is listed in bold. Below each network area is a list of all retailers offering electricity to residential customers on that network. The first listed retailer is the incumbent retailer.
5.Retail prices are based on information provided by the retail companies. Consumers pay the retail charge only, not the sum of the line charge and the retail charge.
6.The lines component figures in the "Line" columns are based on official disclosures under the Electricity Information Disclosure Requirements 2004. They represent the component of the retail charge attributable to transmission and distribution.
7.The charges shown are average charges in cents per kilowatt-hour. They combine both the fixed (daily) charge and variable (c/kWh) charges into a single figure. To produce an average charge, the total annual bill for a 365.25 day year is calculated for a domestic consumer using 8000 kWh per annum. This total is then divided by 8000.
8.GST and prompt payment discounts are included, but not direct debit discounts, electronic payment discounts or rebates. The tariffs used in the calculations are those available to new customers.
9.Dual meter charges in most regions are based on the assumption that 60% of power use is at an uncontrolled (continuous supply) rate and 40% is at a controlled (hot water) rate. Where variations to this rule occur, all retailers are treated using the same variation. The modelled metering setup in any particular location may not be the most typical metering configuration for that area so any price comparisons should only be taken as indicative.
10.In some cases, a line or retail company uses separate tariffs for day and night time, or summer and winter. In these cases the companies have provided an estimate of the weight to give to each of these tariffs in the calculations.
11.Where the retail charge depends on the capacity of the connection, the most common capacity for typical domestic customers is used, provided this capacity is not less than 10 kVA. Where the retail charge depends on the location of the customer within a lines area, the customer is assumed to be in a large urban centre close to a substation. Tariffs offered to new customers' at the time of publication are used in this analysis; contract discounts (i.e. price freeze rates or programmes such as TrustPower's Friends xtra discounts) not offered to new customers are excluded.
12.Some line companies pass on Transpower’s AC loss-rental rebates directly to the retailers while others return it indirectly through lower line charges. Since the line charges include the cost of Transpower’s transmission charges, local line companies which face higher transmission costs may have higher line charges.
13.From the 15 August 2008 survey, Installation Control Point (ICP) numbers are presented in the survey rather than residential customer numbers to take advantage of information published by the Electricity Commission. Use of domestic customer numbers, rather than ICPs, saw annual revisions of historic price averages and involved estimating customer numbers using household statistics from Statistics NZ. ICP numbers more reliable.
14.The ICP information includes commercial and industrial connections. As of 31 March 2008 official statistics show that 86% of all ICPs are residential. This factor can be used to make a rough estimate of residential consumers in a particular line area, although significant variation can occur between regions.
15. The Ministry of Economic Development gives no warranty on the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any of the information presented on electricity prices on this website or in print. The Ministry shall not be held liable for any claims whatsoever arising from the use of this information.
16. The Ministry of Economic Development must be acknowledge when using, reproducing or quoting this electricity price information.
Back to Top