Electricity Authority of New Zealand

What Electricity Authority of New Zealand does

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is the statutory regulator of New Zealand's electricity industry, established in 2010 under the Electricity Industry Act 2010 to replace the Electricity Commission. It governs the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010, certifies and audits industry participants (81 certified reconciliation participants are on the public register), enforces compliance, and adjudicates breaches. The Authority does not sell products or services commercially; it is funded through annual statutory levies calculated on retailers, generators, network owners, and other parties regulated under the Code, and operates as a Crown entity accountable to the Minister for Energy.

The Authority's technology platform comprises the Electricity Registry (identifying every electricity connection point via ICP references), the legacy EMI platform being migrated into a new Data & Insights Hub (launched September 2025), multiple public APIs (ICP connection data, wholesale market real-time dispatch and pricing, dataset APIs), and five contracted Market Operation Service Providers (Clearing Manager, Reconciliation Manager, WITS Manager, Registry Manager, FTR Manager), with Transpower operating as System Operator. Additional products include the Billy consumer comparison and switching service (January 2026), the Solar Installations Map (March 2026), the Regional Power Prices Dashboard, the quarterly Stress Testing Regime, hydrological and thermal fuel datasets, audit registers, and the comprehensive 17-part Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010.

The Authority serves two primary constituencies: industry participants (generators, retailers, distributors, grid owners, metering providers) who access technical data, APIs, compliance portals, and the participant register; and electricity consumers (residential and small business) who access free comparison tools, educational content via the 'Eye on Electricity' series and The Electricity Brief podcast, and the Consumer Care Enquiries line (0800 626 244) managed by Answer Services Limited. Its strategic focus areas include renewable energy transition, consumer access and choice, network connections reform, future security and resilience, and improving visibility of generation investment, with a current security-of-supply reserve of approximately 1,000+ GWh.

Name

Electricity Authority of New Zealand

Legal name

Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko

Website

https://ea.govt.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is the statutory regulator of New Zealand's electricity industry, governing the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010, operating the Electricity Registry and Data & Insights Hub, and serving both certified industry participants (generators, retailers, distributors) and electricity consumers with data tools, APIs, and the Billy comparison service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Market Regulation

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (92613), Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (926130)

akta.pro primary industry

Energy, Utilities & Natural Resources Regulators (BPAIAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

System Operations & Control Centers (EMS/SCADA for Transmission) (EUADAAAG), HSE, Quality & Regulatory Compliance for Renewable Operations (Permits, Inspections, Reporting) (EUAMAGAL)

Keywords

• Electricity market regulation
• Wholesale electricity markets
• Consumer energy comparison
• Market data analytics
• Compliance monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industry Levies: The Electricity Authority is funded through annual levies calculated for industry participants including retailers, generators, network owners, and other parties regulated under the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010. Levy rates are calculated annually for each financial year.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Electricity Authority of New Zealand (Te Mana Hiko) is the statutory regulator of New Zealand's electricity industry, operating under the Electricity Industry Act 2010. It governs the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010, monitors market performance, enforces compliance, and operates critical market infrastructure including the Electricity Registry, settlement systems, and the Data & Insights Hub. It also delivers consumer-facing services such as the Billy comparison and switching tool and the Solar Installations Map.

Product overview

The Electricity Authority of New Zealand (Te Mana Hiko) operates a multi-product regulatory technology platform rather than a single product. The core offering consists of: the Data & Insights Hub (consolidating the legacy EMI platform) providing market data, dashboards, and APIs; the Electricity Registry for tracking all connection points; the Billy consumer comparison tool; and specialized market operation tools including stress testing, real-time pricing, and hydrological modeling. Supporting products include audit registers, contingent contract monitoring, thermal fuel information, and the comprehensive Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010. The portfolio serves both industry participants (generators, retailers, distributors) through technical data APIs and compliance tools, and consumers through comparison tools and educational resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Billy: Official comparison and switching service for New Zealanders to compare and switch power plans
• EMI (Electricity Market Information)
• Data & Insights Hub

Products and services

• Data & Insights Hub Centralized platform providing access to electricity market data, tools, and insights including interactive charts, dashboards, downloadable datasets, and APIs. Consolidates content from the EMI website, Tableau Public, and industry pages.
• Billy Comparison and Switching Service Free, independent consumer comparison and switching service that helps New Zealanders compare power plans and companies to find the best deal.
• Solar Installations Map Interactive mapping tool showing the approximate number, size and location of solar installations across New Zealand at street level. Includes filters for installation type, generation capacity, and residential/non-residential classification.
• Electricity Registry Database that identifies every point of electricity connection using Installation Control Point (ICP) references, enabling energy flows between retailers to be reconciled and informing retailers when customers switch supplier.
• Real-Time Dispatch and Pricing Data Wholesale market pricing data providing nodal energy and island reserve prices throughout trading periods, with final prices declared by 2pm the following business day.
• Market Operations Service Providers (MOSP) Five contracted service providers: Clearing Manager (financial settlement), Reconciliation Manager (volume allocation), WITS Manager (spot market data), Registry Manager (ICP register), and FTR Manager (Financial Transmission Rights market).
• Audit Registers Public registers of approved organizations certified to carry out reconciliation participant, generator, distributor, and other industry audit functions, including audit due dates and compliance plans.
• Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 Comprehensive regulatory code governing nearly every aspect of New Zealand's electricity industry, organized into 17 parts covering market operations, metering, trading arrangements, and compliance.
• Regional Power Prices Dashboard Interactive dashboard showing electricity costs and prices across Aotearoa regions, enabling consumers to compare their electricity use and costs with regional averages, track monthly trends, and see cost breakdowns.
• Stress Testing Regime Quarterly spot price risk disclosure regime that helps electricity market participants understand their financial exposure to sudden increases in wholesale electricity prices using standardized scenarios.

Quantifiable outcome

• 563 GWh more energy available than previous year
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Transpower (System Operator)coreTechnology or IntegrationTranspower operates as the System Operator, responsible for scheduling and dispatching electricity to avoid fluctuations in frequency or disruption of supply. This is a contracted Market Operation Service Provider (MOSP) role under the Authority's governance.
• Clearing Manager (MOSP)coreTechnology or IntegrationOne of five contracted Market Operation Service Providers responsible for monitoring prudential security requirements and invoicing and settling electricity and ancillary service payments.
• Reconciliation Manager (MOSP)coreTechnology or IntegrationOne of five contracted MOSPs that ensures consumption volumes are allocated to the correct traders for settlement through the monthly reconciliation process.
• WITS Manager (MOSP)coreTechnology or IntegrationOne of five contracted MOSPs that manages the Wholesale Information and Trading System (WITS) for spot market data transfers and publication.
• Registry Manager (MOSP)coreTechnology or IntegrationOne of five contracted MOSPs that maintains the register of consumption ICPs and the registry hub for managing regulated consumption data requests from approved third parties.
• FTR Manager (MOSP)coreTechnology or IntegrationOne of five contracted MOSPs that operates the Financial Transmission Rights (FTR) market for hedge products.
• Rewiring AotearoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent organization that encouraged faster electrification and developed the original Solar Streets map idea. The Authority took over development of the map based on Electricity Registry data in late 2025.
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency promoting clean and clever energy use. EECA has welcomed the Solar Installations Map tool and coordinates with the Authority on consumer information about solar energy.
• Answer Services LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThird-party service provider that receives and manages consumer calls on the Consumer Care Enquiries number (0800 626 244) on behalf of the Authority. Calls are recorded for training and service quality purposes.
• Meridian Energy (Ruakākā Battery)minorOthersGenerator participant whose 100MW Ruakākā Battery was commissioned in May 2025 and began offering energy and reserve into the market in late July 2025, contributing to security of supply.
• Contact EnergyminorOthersGenerator participant that negotiated a deal with Methanex in Taranaki to reduce gas usage for manufacturing during winter 2024 fuel shortage, freeing up gas for electricity generation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Energy Board / Canada Energy Regulator: Canadian federal regulator overseeing inter-provincial and international energy infrastructure, including electricity transmission. Comparable statutory regulator with rule-making, compliance, and market oversight functions.
• Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU, Ireland): Ireland's regulator for electricity, gas, and water services with statutory consumer protection duties. Comparable as a small-economy national utility regulator focused on market liberalization, network oversight, and consumer outcomes.
• Ofgem: UK regulator for gas and electricity markets, responsible for promoting competition, regulating monopolies, and protecting consumers. Comparable in mandate scope (market rules, consumer protection, network oversight) and data-driven regulatory approach.
• Australian Energy Regulator (AER): Australia's national economic regulator for electricity and gas markets, enforcing rules, monitoring compliance, and protecting consumers. Most direct international peer to the Electricity Authority given similar market structure, wholesale design, and regulatory scope in a comparable-sized economy.
• Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC): Independent regulator of Alberta's electricity, natural gas, and water utilities with rule-making, licensing, and dispute-resolution functions. Comparable as a sub-national regulator covering generation, transmission, distribution, and retail rules.
• AEMC (Australian Energy Market Commission): Australian rule-maker for the National Electricity Market, responsible for setting and amending market rules and conducting reviews. Directly comparable to the Authority's role in setting the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 and governing Code amendments.

Regional players

• PJM Interconnection: US regional transmission organization operating the largest competitive wholesale electricity market in North America with nodal/LMP pricing. Comparable market design and operational scale, though PJM is a market operator rather than a regulator and serves a much larger footprint.
• Energy Market Authority (EMA, Singapore): Statutory body regulating Singapore's gas and electricity industries, including market operator functions. Comparable in combined regulator-and-market-operator mandate, though Singapore's market is geographically smaller and structurally different from NZ's.

Broad incumbents

• FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission): US federal regulator of interstate electricity transmission, wholesale markets, and natural gas. Comparable wholesale-market oversight function and nodal/LMP-style pricing influence, though broader in scope and operating at federal scale.

Others

• Transpower New Zealand: NZ state-owned System Operator and national transmission grid owner, contracted by the Authority as a Market Operation Service Provider. Not a competitor but the Authority's most important counterparty for real-time scheduling, dispatch, and security of supply.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1451242
• Xx.com/electricityauth

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Electricity Authority of New Zealand