New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has provisionally approved NZ$1.3 billion of investment by electricity distributor Orion, reducing the company’s NZ$1.5 billion request after testing the costs against consumer interests.
The draft decision published on 10 November covers the five years from 1 April 2027. The Commission estimates that the allowed expenditure would add about NZ$21 to an average Orion customer’s monthly bill by 2032, compared with roughly NZ$33 under the company’s proposal.
Orion says the programme is needed to replace ageing assets, accommodate growth in Canterbury and strengthen resilience to earthquakes and severe weather. The regulator’s assessment included independent review and consideration of alternatives to conventional network upgrades, including rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles and flexible demand.
The amount is not final. Submissions are open until 8 December and cross-submissions until 23 December, with a final decision expected in March 2027. Any approved revenue and price changes would begin on 1 April 2027.
Read the draft decision and supporting documents
