The Electricity Authority (Authority) is an independent Crown entity responsible for overseeing and regulating the New Zealand electricity market.

We regulate the electricity market by developing and setting the market rules, enforcing and administering them and monitoring the market’s performance. We also place a strong emphasis on voluntary market facilitation measures.

As an independent Crown entity, we are free to adopt our own work programme provided it promotes competition, reliability and efficiency for the long-term benefit of consumers

The Electricity Authority was established on 1 November 2010 under the Electricity Industry Act 2010, after a ministerial review in 2009 identified the need to better manage hydro storage during extended periods of dry weather and to improve competition in the electricity markets, especially the retail market. The Act was amended in 2022, to reflect the need to protect consumer interests.

The Authority replaced the Electricity Commission, which was set up in 2003 to regulate the electricity market.

The Authority currently has about 90 full-time employees.