Yet despite hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal resources that are the envy of the world, Kiwis are facing some of the highest electricity prices in decades. The reason is simple; our energy market is broken. It’s failing households, businesses and the climate.

This market failure is why Electric Kiwi has joined other independent retailers, and business and community advocates in an open letter to the Government that calls for urgent reform to a system that is no longer working for New Zealanders.

But while we push for bold political action, we’re also working to make things better now.

That’s why we’ve launched an open market tender, inviting developers across Aotearoa to partner with us on long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for renewable generation projects, and potentially battery storage. 

The goal? Secure clean, competitively priced electricity for our customers while supporting the development of more renewable generation across the country.

Committing to our customers and New Zealand

This tender process, run in partnership with EVA Marketplace, gives developers the opportunity to secure 10-15-year PPAs. These agreements can be critical to securing financing and getting new renewable projects off the ground. They can help diversify our supply and stabilise prices for our customers while also moving New Zealand to a cleaner energy future.

It’s a win-win. Renewable developers gain a guaranteed buyer for their generation and Electric Kiwi customers get more affordable and clean electricity in an increasingly volatile market.

Our goal is to lock in a portfolio of PPAs that provide a good mix of technologies and locations across both islands and that diversifies our supply. We are also open to battery storage initiatives that will help manage supply during peak demand or when generation drops from sources like solar and wind.

In short, we’re making a long-term commitment to our customers, to renewable energy, and in New Zealand’s energy future.

The system is not working

New Zealand’s electricity market is structurally flawed. The dominance of a few big players who both generate electricity and retail it to consumers is stifling competition. It distorts prices, limits supply and discourages investment in new generation. It also works against retailers like us who are trying to deliver a better deal for Kiwis.

That’s why we are out there calling for serious market reform. We’re seeing industry disappearing under the weight of ever-increasing electricity bills. We’re hearing about regional businesses who can’t afford to keep the lights on, and families facing impossible decisions as they struggle to heat the home or pay the bills.

This is not how a well-functioning market should operate. 

Taking action

This tender is a small attempt to help break the cycle by supporting new generation, giving new developers a pathway to market, and offering our customers more affordable, clean electricity.

However, it’s not a substitute for government action. 

What is needed is real reform. The time for tinkering around the edges has come and gone. We need an electricity market that provides a level playing field and removes the structural roadblocks holding us back. That means:

• Arms-length separation of generation and retail to encourage real competition.
• Supporting smaller players to bring innovative projects to the market.
• Unlocking investment in new, low-cost renewables through improved market design.
• Delivering a cross-party energy strategy that prioritises the long-term interests of New Zealanders.

We must act now to break the power of the few established incumbents and create a system that supports a resilient, low-emissions future.

Join us

If you’re a developer with a renewable generation or storage project, we’d love for you to get involved. Expressions of interest are open until 25 July via www.evamarketplace.co.nz. 

To our customers, thank you for choosing an independent provider. Your support enables us to work for a better system for everyone, and take the action required to build it.

At Electric Kiwi we’re committed to doing our bit to create a fairer, cleaner, more affordable energy future for Kiwis and we’ll keep pushing until we achieve it.

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