We develop, administer and enforce the market rules that govern nearly every aspect of New Zealand’s electricity industry including generation, transmission, system operation, security of supply, market arrangements, metering, distribution and retail.

We contract service providers to operate the electricity market and system.

We analyse and monitor the performance of the market and the electricity industry and make the information available on our EMI website(external link) - short for Electricity Market Information.

The EMI website has a wide range of information, including data on retailer market share, monthly switching reports and wholesale final pricing.

We help develop the industry through education, guidelines, information and model arrangements. 

Our day-to-day work focuses on addressing key questions that affect the long-term benefit of electricity consumers.

Purpose – statutory objectives

Our main statutory objective is to promote competition, ensure that there’s a reliable supply of electricity and to promote the efficient operation of the electricity industry, for the long-term benefit of consumers. Our additional objective is to protect the interests of domestic consumers and small business consumers in relation to the supply of electricity to those customers.