Power prices by region and town

As at May 2026 the national average was 42.04c per kWh including GST, on MBIE's Quarterly Survey of Domestic Electricity Prices. For a household using 8,000 kWh a year on a low-user plan, paying on time and taking any prompt-payment discount, with controlled hot water, that is about $3,363 a year. The figure is market-share weighted across the country, so it is not simply the average of the 42 towns below.

Of the 42 towns MBIE surveys, Balclutha is the most expensive at 52.52c per kWh, and Wellington City the least at 37.01c — a gap of 42%. The survey covers 42 towns and cities, not every locality in New Zealand.

Mostly lines charges. Every area is served by one lines company, whose charges reflect how far the network has to reach and how many customers share the cost — a dense city network spreads its costs over far more households than a rural one. Energy and retailer costs vary much less by location, which is why two towns can pay similar amounts for the electricity itself and very different amounts to have it delivered.

No. They are an average of publicly advertised tariffs for one modelled household in each town — 8,000 kWh a year, low-user plan, controlled hot water, prompt payment discounts taken. Your own bill depends on how much you use, your meter, and which company you are with. Use them to see how your town compares, not as a quote.

MBIE publishes the survey quarterly, on the 15th of February, May, August and November. This page carries the May 2026 release and the full series back to February 2004.