Act Party pledges to force line firms to justify price hikes and boost competition

The Act Party’s 2026 election policy targets high electricity prices by tightening oversight of network operators. It would obligate line companies to show that price rises deliver consumer value, while also opening the market for households to sell surplus power from rooftop solar or battery storage to any chosen buyer. The party dismisses proposals to split up power firms, saying that additional generation, investment and competition are the true solutions.

It plans to permit private investors to construct and run new transmission infrastructure, provided they meet technical and reliability criteria. Qualified providers could compete for customer-funded connection projects, and advanced grid technologies such as batteries would be allowed to challenge expensive new lines, preventing consumers from paying for unnecessary upgrades.