Electricity
Govt's relaxation on renewable electricity target welcomed
The government is preferring to keep a lid on power prices rather than trying to produce every last megawatt from renewable electricity. Audio
Is the prepay power market working as it should?
More than 40,000 households around New Zealand are connected to prepay electricity meters provided by the three largest energy retailers. In its latest survey of electricity prices, Consumer NZ… Video, Audio
A world without power: 'Blackout'
'Blackout' is a new fiction podcast looking at what could happen if power went down across the entire US. So imagine a world where mobile communications and the internet fail, and where news is hard… Audio
Kevin Ashton: The Internet of Things and what we should worry about
Kevin Ashton's regarded as one of the first people to realise the scope of what the internet could deliver two decades ago and shares his thoughts on what the future might hold. Audio
Power prices: What to expect this winter
Today is the last day for submissions on an independent review into power pricing. The Electricity Price Review's expert panel outlined options it was in favour of, but will power uses see any… Audio
Electricity paper rules out pricing caps and wholesale change
The latest electricity recommendations say struggling households should get more help and prompt-payment discounts should be dropped. An independent panel says its focus has been on fair and… Audio
Options released from the Electricity Price Review
The Electricity Price Review was set up to investigate whether the electricity market is delivering fair prices to customers. The chair of the Review's advisory panel, Miriam Dean, is with us to talk… Audio
Calling Home: Olly Spinks in London
In calling home this week we speak to Olly Spinks who, like many New Zealanders, has made his home in London. He gives his views on Brexit and a bit about his line of work in gas and electricity… Audio
Orkney's sustainability revolution
Scotland's Orkney Islands generate more electricity than they need via a host of wind turbines. Looking at the future of energy with Laura Watts the author of Energy at the End of the World: An Orkney… Audio
Norway's EV revolution: can NZ catch up?
What role can government and business play in getting more electric vehicles on our roads? Norway has been hailed as the undisputed world-leader in EV uptake. The reasons for this aren't just… Audio
Diana Ürge-Vorsatz: how buildings contribute to climate change
Professor Diana Ürge-Vorsatz is the director of the Centre of Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Policy at the Central European University in Budapest. She is also Vice Chair of the IPCC. She's in… Audio
An insurer in liquidation and electricity skewing
Business commentator Rod Oram looks at the liquidation of CBL Insurance, a claim by small electricity retailers that the big companies are skewing the market, and Vodafone NZ confirms it will list on… Audio
Trustpower posts modest half year profit
The Tauranga-based power company has reported a smaller first-half profit than last year as hydro lake levels and wholesale prices returned to normal.
Contact Energy denies claims of collusion
Entrust, the leading shareholder of New Zealand's biggest electricity distributor, is calling on the Commerce Commission to investigate four major power suppliers over what it calls "corporate… Video, Audio
Up the creek and off the grid: putting the power back into West Coast farming
Graham Berry has a dairy farm just south of Franz Josef. The born-and-bred West Coaster borrows water from a creek on DOC land to drive a 55-kiloWatt, hydro-electric scheme. Audio, Gallery
Report points to 'energy hardship' for households
A government document released today shows more than 100,000 households are experiencing "energy hardship", spending more than 10 percent of their average income on power.
Electricity prices to rise in north, drop in South
The Electricity Authority is pressing ahead with its plan for big changes to the way people are charged for electricity. And that's expected to mean people living a long way from power plants will… Audio
Power struggles - unfair sweeteners to switch back?
Small electricity retailers say their larger competitors are unfairly offering enticements to win customers back once they've switched. Nearly half a million power customers switched suppliers last… Audio
Water wheel powers West Coast farm
Power cuts are no problem for a West Coast farming couple. They are turning - literally - a stream on their property into power. Audio, Gallery
Trees and powerlines
Trees and broken branches are still being cleared in Auckland after the big storm of a week ago. They've caused havoc with power lines and Graeme Peters of the Electricity Networks Association wants… Audio