Tell me about
Your Energy Journey
Your Energy Journey Starts Here
Whether you're thinking about reducing your power bills, cutting your carbon footprint, moving away from gas, or simply future-proofing your home or business — you're not alone, and you don't have to figure it out by yourself.
The energy landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand is changing fast. New technologies, new funding options, and new pressures (especially around gas supply) mean that now is a smart time to review your energy situation — and to make a plan.
Unison is your local electricity network company. We own and operate the electricity lines that power homes and businesses across Hawke's Bay, Rotorua, and Taupō. We're here to help you understand your options and navigate the journey.
You'll find more technical detail about specific topics — solar, EV charging, connections — in the sections alongside this one. This guide is designed to help you think through the bigger picture first, so you're better placed to use that detail when you need it.
A Plan to Guide You — the 5 Step Process
Based on what we've learned from working with customers across our regions, we've developed a five-step framework to help you think through your energy future in a structured way:
STEP 1
Seek independent energy advice
STEP 2
Understand your energy baseline, exposure, and options
STEP 3
Engage early with partners — including Unison
STEP 4
Explore EECA support and funding
STEP 5
Assess Options and Develop a Staged Plan
You don't have to do them all at once — but working through them in order will help you avoid costly surprises later.
Where would you like to start?
I'm a Homeowner or Renter
Wondering whether solar panels, a heat pump, an EV charger, or a battery system might be right for you — or if you're heating with gas and wondering what happens if gas supply becomes less reliable.
I Run or Manage a Business
Energy is one of the most significant and controllable costs in most businesses. It's also an area where decisions made today will affect your competitiveness, resilience, and emissions profile for decades.
Why does Unison publish this?
As a lines company, we're most useful to you when you come to us early — ideally before you commit to a new technology or upgrade. If your plans involve increasing your electricity load (for example, switching from gas to electric heating, installing a large solar system, or adding EV charging infrastructure), your connection to our network may need to be assessed or upgraded. That takes time and planning.
We've seen customers miss funding windows or delay projects because they didn't engage their network company early enough. We want to help you avoid that.