Power prices in Richmond

As at May 2026, electricity in Richmond averaged 39.44c 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 $3,155 a year. That is 6.2% below the national average of 42.04c, making Richmond the 37th 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 Richmond the lines component is 11.89c per kWh — 30% of the total, against 40% nationally. The remaining 27.56c covers energy, metering and retailer costs, which vary far less by location.

Network Tasman. Richmond sits in the Tasman (Network Tasman) network reporting region, and Network Tasman 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 508 098. Your retailer is who you choose and who bills you; the lines company is fixed by where you live.

Yes. In February 2004 the Richmond average was 15.22c per kWh; by May 2026 it was 39.44c — a rise of 159% over 22 years. Over the last twelve months alone it rose 7.0%.

Possibly. The MBIE figure is an average of publicly advertised tariffs across Richmond, not a quote — what you pay depends on your usage, your meter and which company you are with. Switching retailer does not change the 11.89c lines component, but it does change the 27.56c that sits on top of it. Comparing the companies we work with is free and takes a couple of minutes.