Average Power Bill in New Zealand 2025
Do you know where your power bill sits in the New Zealand average? Is it higher, or lower? In this current cost of living crisis, it is a good idea to know where you sit, so that you can make any changes to your habits or to your provider if you have a higher than average bill. In 2024, the Commerce Commission announced that there would be price rises in the industry coming in 2025. So, it’s a good idea to keep track of what others in your city or town are paying so you can compare power companies and power plans if you are paying too much.
What is the Average Power Bill in NZ?
New Zealand’s demand for power has increased. At the end of September 2024, the average Kiwi household consumed 7107kWh of electricity over the past 12 months. At a rate of about 33.89c per kWh, this worked out to be about $200 per month. With high heating costs, Kiwis tended to use more electricity in the winter to warm their homes than in summer.
It’s important to remember that where you live in New Zealand can impact your monthly bill. Different areas have different rates. This impacts the overall average power bill of different areas.
For example, folks in Kerikeri are paying 46% higher power bills than Kiwis in Christchurch. The list below shows the highest to lowest average power bills in the country. Kerikeri is, once again, has the most expensive electricity bill in Aotearoa.
| Location | Per Year | Per Month |
| Kerikeri | $3222 | $269 |
| Westport | $3221 | $268 |
| Balclutha | $3151 | $263 |
| Greymouth | $3135 | $261 |
| Cromwell | $3034 | $253 |
| Waipukurau | $3010 | $251 |
| Blenhiem | $2958 | $247 |
| Gisborne | $2869 | $239 |
| Taumaranui | $2852 | $238 |
| Otorohanga | $2852 | $238 |
| Dannevirke | $2847 | $237 |
| Hawera | $2790 | $233 |
| Pukekohe | $2788 | $232 |
| Masterton | $2788 | $232 |
| Rangiora | $2785 | $232 |
| Winton | $2783 | $232 |
| Kaiapoi | $2759 | $230 |
| Tauranga | $2748 | $229 |
| Whangarei | $2740 | $228 |
| Oamaru | $2658 | $222 |
| Thames | $2645 | $220 |
| Paraparaumu | $2626 | $219 |
| Queenstown | $2612 | $218 |
| Taupo | $2596 | $216 |
| Whanganui | $2569 | $214 |
| Timaru | $2569 | $214 |
| Rotorua | $2565 | $214 |
| Whakatane | $2558 | $213 |
| Cambridge | $2533 | $211 |
| Dunedin | $2516 | $210 |
| New Plymouth | $2514 | $210 |
| Palmerston North | $2495 | $208 |
| Napier | $2446 | $204 |
| Richmond | $2441 | $203 |
| Auckland North Shore | $2415 | $201 |
| Auckland Central | $2410 | $201 |
| Hamilton | $2398 | $200 |
| Nelson | $2396 | $200 |
| Invercargill | $2353 | $196 |
| Ashburton | $2309 | $192 |
| Wellington City | $2270 | $189 |
| Christchurch | $2213 | $184 |
How to Lower a High Power Bill
Just because you live in a region that has high energy rates, such as Kerikeri and Westport, doesn’t mean you are tied to high monthly bills. There are things you can do to save money and lower your power bill.
Compare Power
Here at Power Compare, we are all about helping Kiwis find a better deal for their power bill. Our user-friendly comparison platform is designed to empower you to easily and quickly compare the cheapest power plans and providers available to you. This is the best way to find a deal that offers more value for money, so you can save money and pay less.
Consider Off-Peak Power Deals
When do you mostly use your power? Lots of power providers offer off-peak power deals, which can be a great way to save money on your bill. These off-peak rates are generally lower than standard rates, so you can take advantage of them for power-intensive tasks such as running the dishwasher and washing machine. Big savings can be made when you use more of your power during off-peak hours, which are often Monday to Friday 7am-11am and 5pm-9pm.
Reduce Power Consumption
While our overall demand for electricity has increased in the last year, there are things we can do around the home to reduce our consumption. For example, you can replace your old appliances with new, energy efficient appliances, which will use less energy to do their jobs. There are other eco-friendly swaps you can make, such as changing your traditional light bulbs to LEDs. You can also clean your appliances such as your aircon to make sure it can work efficiently.
Tips to Reduce Power Consumption
Where Can I Get the Cheapest Power in New Zealand?
In 2025, Christchurch has the lowest power rates in the country, with Wellington and Ashburton runners up. Even Auckland, including Auckland’s North Shore, have lower rates than some of Aotearoa’s smallest towns. Denser populations and wider spreads of power lines can help keep costs down.
| Location | Per Year | Per Month |
| Christchurch | $2213 | $184 |
| Wellington City | $2270 | $189 |
| Ashburton | $2309 | $192 |
| Invercargill | $2353 | $196 |
| Nelson | $2396 | $200 |
| Hamilton | $2396 | $200 |
| Auckland Central | $2410 | $201 |
| Auckland North Shore | $2415 | $201 |
| Richmond | $2441 | $203 |
| Napier | $2446 | $204 |
| Palmerston North | $2495 | $208 |
| New Plymouth | $2514 | $210 |
| Dunedin | $2516 | $210 |
| Cambridge | $2533 | $211 |
| Whakatane | $2558 | $211 |
| Rotorua | $2565 | $214 |
| Timaru | $2569 | $214 |
| Whanganui | $2569 | $214 |
| Taupo | $2596 | $216 |
| Queenstown | $2612 | $218 |
| Paraparaumu | $2626 | $219 |
| Queenstown | $2612 | $218 |
| Thames | $2645 | $220 |
| Oamaru | $2658 | $222 |
| Whangarei | $2740 | $228 |
| Tauranga | $2748 | $229 |
| Kaiapoi | $2759 | $230 |
| Winton | $2783 | $232 |
| Rangiora | $2785 | $232 |
| Masterton | $2788 | $232 |
| Pukekohe | $2788 | $232 |
| Hawera | $2790 | $233 |
| Dannevirke | $2847 | $237 |
| Otorohanga | $2852 | $238 |
| Taumaramui | $2852 | $238 |
| Gisborne | $2869 | $239 |
| Blenheim | $2958 | $247 |
| Waipukuyrau | $3010 | $253 |
| Cromwell | $3034 | $253 |
| Balclutha | $3151 | $263 |
| Westport | $3221 | $268 |
| Kerikeri | $3222 | $269 |
Compare Prices of Power in 2025 in New Zealand
It’s always helpful to know what Kiwis are paying, on average, for their power bill around Aotearoa. When you compare the nearest major town or city’s average bill, you can have a better understanding of where yours falls. If your bill sits higher than average, it is a good idea to jump on Power Compare to find yourself a better deal.
The below list shows the average power bills of towns and cities, listed in alphabetical order.
| Location | Per Year | Per Month |
| Ashburton | $2309 | $192 |
| Auckland Central | $2410 | $201 |
| Auckland North Shore | $2415 | $201 |
| Balclutha | $3151 | $263 |
| Blenhiem | $2958 | $247 |
| Cambridge | $2533 | $211 |
| Christchurch | $2213 | $184 |
| Cromwell | $3034 | $253 |
| Dannevirke | $2847 | $237 |
| Dunedin | $2516 | $210 |
| Gisborne | $2869 | $239 |
| Greymouth | $3135 | $261 |
| Hamilton | $2398 | $200 |
| Hawera | $2790 | $233 |
| Invercargill | $2353 | $196 |
| Kaiapoi | $2759 | $230 |
| Kerikeri | $3222 | $269 |
| Masterton | $2788 | $232 |
| Napier | $2446 | $204 |
| Nelson | $2396 | $200 |
| New Plymouth | $2514 | $210 |
| Oamaru | $2658 | $222 |
| Otorohanga | $2852 | $238 |
| Palmerston North | $2495 | $208 |
| Paraparaumu | $2626 | $219 |
| Pukekohe | $2788 | $232 |
| Queenstown | $2612 | $218 |
| Rangiora | $2785 | $232 |
| Richmond | $2441 | $203 |
| Rotorua | $2565 | $214 |
| Taumaranui | $2852 | $238 |
| Taupo | $2596 | $216 |
| Tauranga | $2748 | $229 |
| Thames | $2645 | $220 |
| Timaru | $2569 | $214 |
| Waipukurau | $3010 | $251 |
| Wellington City | $2270 | $189 |
| Westport | $3221 | $268 |
| Whakatane | $2558 | $213 |
| Whanganui | $2569 | $214 |
| Whangarei | $2740 | $228 |
| Winton | $2783 | $232 |
Compare Power Plans and Save
Don’t miss out on savings this year. Jump on Power Compare to find the cheapest power plan and company for your home! With price rises on the horizon, your budget will thank you, and it will only take a few minutes. Follow these simple steps:
- Jump on the website.
- Enter your address.
- Compare power plans available to you side-by-side.
- Find one you like and click SWITCH.
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