National Party unveils nine-point plan to lower New Zealand power bills
The National Party released a nine-point "Electrify NZ 2.0" plan aimed at reducing electricity costs by boosting supply, competition and consumer choice.
National Party spokesperson Simeon Brown announced a nine-point energy strategy dubbed Electrify NZ 2.0, targeting the drivers behind rising power bills in New Zealand. The plan proposes a Home Energy Fund offering low-interest loans for residential solar, cuts to the Resource Management Act, and a requirement that new AI data centres supply their own firmed power. It calls for a review of the Commerce Act provisions that set network charge caps, arguing that one outlet cap, set in November 2024, will persist until 2030 despite falling interest rates.
Additional measures would allow consumers to choose any retailer for selling solar or battery-generated electricity, speed up network connections, open the backup-power market, and embed affordability as a core objective for the Electricity Authority. Labour criticised the plan as insufficient, labeling it an "absolute fizzer" that offers more reviews than immediate relief.
Why it matters
The plan could reshape New Zealand's electricity market, affecting household costs and renewable investment.
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