Power prices in Palmerston North

As at May 2026, electricity in Palmerston North averaged 42.73c per kWh including GST. 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 works out to roughly $3,418 a year. That is 1.6% above the national average of 42.04c, making Palmerston North the 30th most expensive of the 42 towns MBIE surveys.

Lines charges are the part of a power bill that changes most from town to town, because every area is served by a different network. In Palmerston North the lines component is 19.66c per kWh — 46% of the total, against 40% nationally. The remaining 23.06c covers energy, metering and retailer costs, which vary far less by location.

Powerco. Palmerston North sits in the Manawatu (Powerco) network reporting region, and Powerco owns and maintains the poles and wires — so they are who you call in a power cut, not your power company. Their faults line is 0800 27 27 27. Your retailer is who you choose and who bills you; the lines company is fixed by where you live.

Yes. In February 2004 the Palmerston North average was 18.43c per kWh; by May 2026 it was 42.73c — a rise of 132% over 22 years. Over the last twelve months alone it rose 7.3%.

Possibly. The MBIE figure is an average of publicly advertised tariffs across Palmerston North, not a quote — what you pay depends on your usage, your meter and which company you are with. Switching retailer does not change the 19.66c lines component, but it does change the 23.06c that sits on top of it. Comparing the companies we work with is free and takes a couple of minutes.