Powering Auckland
Learn how New Zealand’s largest city gets its power.
Keen to join Meridian today?
If you’re simply looking for a new power provider for your home or business, here’s why we’re the choice for so many in the greater Auckland region:
How does Auckland stay powered? Is solar energy worth it? And what about driving (and charging) an EV in the region? We cover all of this and more in our Auckland power resource.
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Flexible and customised plans
Power your home or business on your terms with our flexible Freedom Plan or enjoy price certainty with our Fixed Rate Plan. Tailor your energy plan to fit your needs. We offer options for EV owners and a competitive solar buy-back rate.
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Innovative electric vehicle support
Our EV plans make home and business charging easy and convenient. To help when you're out and about, join Zero – one of the country's largest EV charging networks powered by Meridian, with more than 300 charge points.
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Community commitment and support
We’re dedicated to making a positive impact in our communities. From the Kākāpō Recovery Programme to supporting KidsCan and communities that are striving to do good things with our Community Decarbonisation Fund, we invest in initiatives that matter.
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Generating Power For Auckland
Auckland’s power comes from the national grid, which is contributed by different sources across the country. This includes hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, natural gas, coal and solar power.
Meridian’s generation is from 100% renewable sources, while the country as a whole is typically around 85% renewable generation. This includes our wind farms and hydro stations such as Manapōuri in Fiordland, South Island.
Auckland isn’t home to large Meridian generation sites, but it’s powered by the grid of which Meridian is the largest generator for.
How does Auckland’s weather impact power consumption?
Whether you’re living central, on the North Shore or in Manukau, Auckland’s weather is defined by a humid summer and reasonably mild winters. As with the rest of New Zealand, demand for energy increases as it gets colder, with homes and businesses requiring more heating. On those long, hot summer days, air conditioners and other cooling systems are often the biggest draw of energy.
Given Auckland’s not known for extreme swings in temperature like other parts of the country (Otago for example), the spikes aren’t quite as intense. However, Auckland does experience heavy rainfall and stormy weather as part of its subtropical climate. This has led to civil defence emergencies including power cuts.
Auckland’s humidity can demand more from air conditioning, ventilation and dehumidifiers to maintain a comfortable environment.
Solar power in Auckland
The region receives plenty of warm weather, including over 2,000 sunshine hours a year. It’s not the sunniest place in the country though, and there are many warm days with grey skies. What does this all mean for solar power?
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More fun in the sun
Clear, cloudless days are optimal for generating maximum energy from solar. Sunlight hits panels directly rather than passing through the ‘filter’ of clouds. That doesn’t mean that you won’t generate power during cloudy days - just not as much.
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Pay back time
Considering solar for your home or business in Auckland? Keep in mind there will be a period of time before the saving on power costs pays back the cost of installation, equipment and maintenance. If you get a quote from a provider, they should be able to give you an estimate of this ‘payback’ time.
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Enough to hit the roof
Homes across Auckland vary, from smaller townhouses to large suburban homes. This also means the available space on the roof to install solar panels varies. The same goes for businesses in buildings, too. Having enough space to generate power is part of the initial assessment process.
Owning an electric vehicle in Auckland
EVs have moved from a niche, new category to being commonplace in New Zealand. There are over 70,000 EVs registered and driving on the road. In 2023, Auckland city had over 11,000 fully-electric vehicles, with many more in surrounding areas within the region.
Auckland can be a great place to own and drive an EV, with growing charging infrastructure, lots of day trip options and for many, a traffic-heavy commute. EV’s are also up for a road trip with a bit of planning ahead.
Unlike combustion engine vehicles, EVs don’t use much power when at a stand still. The advancements in battery efficiency and range in the EV space is gradually reducing ‘range anxiety’, which has kept some motorists away in the past. The cost is still higher than equivalent petrol vehicles, but it’s important to consider the lifetime costs of running the car - charging an EV costs about the equivalent of $0.30/litre - try getting that at the pump!
Auckland’s geography suits EVs well. It’s always important to think about your usage habits.
Building a new home in Auckland?
If you’re building a new home, it’s worth having the power and other utilities planned out ahead.
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Step one:
Talk to your building company and electrician. They’ll likely organise the connection when the time is right with your lines company in Auckland as well as any council consents required.
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Step two:
Chat to your power company. We help onboard customers with brand new homes, ensuring that the meter is functional and the connection date is accurate.
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Step three:
Installation involves setting up a meter, cabling, and ensuring a safe connection to power lines, which may include working on multiple homes in a new development or coordinating with neighbours if their power supply is impacted.
Power outage support
This could be due to weather, widespread fault, maintenance or another reason. For information on what to do, see our Auckland Power Outage page.
Powering business in Auckland
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Business power plans
Meridian is proud to be the power company for many great businesses across the Auckland region. They rely on consistent supply, great support and easy billing.
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EV chargers for your site
We’ve been installing and supporting EV charging infrastructure within Auckland for businesses wishing to offer convenient customer charging or fleet power.
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Commercial Solar Power
Whether you’re looking to harness solar for an office building, agribusiness or shopping mall, Meridian can help.
Powering Farms
We’re experts in agri energy solutions, with our dedicated rural team. If you run a farm in Auckland and want a plan that suits your operations and seasonality, we want to chat.
Bach and holiday home in the Auckland region?
Do you also own a bach in holiday spots like the Coromandel, Piha or Waiheke Island? Perhaps you travel farther afield across the country for your slice of paradise. For most, baches aren’t a place we’re lucky to be 365 days a year (wouldn’t that be nice?).
That’s why we offer a special ‘bach plan’ that means you only pay for the power you use with no daily charges. If you’re a Meridian customer for your main Auckland home, it makes sense to take advantage of our bach plan too.
Power when you need it.
Let’s talk
Got questions? Our team is here to help. Let’s talk about a quote or a power plan that’s tailored just for you.