Pricing Information
Does Unison send me a bill?
Most consumers do not receive bills directly from Unison. Instead, we bill electricity retailers, who then combine our charges with their costs and send you a single bill. While our prices are published on this website, we don’t control how retailers pass these on to you.
Getting the power to you
The ‘line charges’ or ‘supply charges’ shown on your electricity bill include costs from Transpower for delivering electricity across the national network to your region. The rest of the charge covers Unison’s cost of distributing electricity from these points to your home or business and covers the cost of maintaining and upgrading the network.
Like most critical infrastructure, electricity networks require investment to maintain them. We’ve seen relatively consistent levels of investment and stable costs in the past. However, factors like ageing infrastructure assets, climate change, inflation, and high interest rates are putting further pressure on our energy networks and driving changes to the required investment.
Preparing the network for the future
The focus on future investment also involves preparing for a cleaner energy future. As consumers and businesses transition away from fossil fuels they will begin to use more electricity. This increases demand and requires a network that can provide enough capacity and ensure a safe and reliable power supply. By investing in these areas, Unison is supporting New Zealand's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
Unison is mindful of the impact of these investment costs on consumers – big and small – as they flow through to electricity bills and are committed to working closely with our customers to ensure the investment decisions we make meet the needs of our regions and consumers.
Regulation plays an important role in helping ensure investment is prudent and efficient and reduces costs to consumers over time.
Generators
Electricity is generated around New Zealand, with the majority coming from renewable sources like hydro dams and wind farms.
Transmission
Electricity is transmitted to regions across New Zealand by the National Grid.
Distribution
Unison takes power from the National Grid, and distributes it across the region.
Retailers
Electricity retailers manage customer needs and invoicing of electricity costs. The invoice includes transmission charges from Transpower, and line charges from Unison.
Understanding your electricity bill
Your electricity bill includes three main costs:
1. Charges from Transpower, the national grid operator.
2. Charges from Unison, your local electricity distributor.
3. The cost of the electricity you use, charged by your electricity retailer.
The diagram to the right shows a simplified view of the costs that make up your electricity bill. Your actual bill might differ a bit based on the electricity retailer you choose, their discounts, how much electricity you use, and the pricing category you're in.
For help with pricing categories and terms, the Electricity Networks Association has a helpful guide.
How does Unison set prices?
Since the electricity distribution industry is regulated by the Commerce Commission, we need to share various details, including our pricing schedules and how we determine our prices.
The pricing schedules list the electricity line charges, which are part of the electricity bill you get from your electricity provider.
Our pricing methodology explains how Unison sets the pricing structure and rates for the year. This information is shared as required by the Electricity Distribution Information Disclosure Determination 2012. It also shows how our pricing methods align with the Electricity Authority’s pricing principles and guidelines.