Powering Tauranga
Learn about power in the Bay of Plenty
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 Canterbury region:
Does it make sense to drive an EV if you live in Tauranga? Is solar a no-brainer in the Mount with all that sunshine? What options are there for growers to save on their energy costs? We explore these topics and much more in this full guide.
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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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Bay of Plenty’s power
The Bay of Plenty is home to a number of power generation assets, although none owned by us. The region has close ties with geothermal activity, especially in Kawerau. This renewable power source is provided to the national grid, of which Tauranga also gets powered by.
Solar farm development and panel installation is popular in the region given the amount of sunshine Bay of Plenty enjoys to leverage this.
What about the weather?
There’s plenty of reasons why so many of us go to Tauranga for the summer holidays - and the weather is certainly one of them. It’s among the country's sunniest places with over 2,300 hours of annual sunshine.
Those who are lucky to live in the Bay of Plenty will also know all too well that it’s far from sunny all year round, with the sub tropical climate also creating the conditions for torrential downpours and overcast weather.
With that said, Tauranga and the surrounding areas don’t battle with frosts the way regions further south do. This makes it prime fruit growing weather and is home to many of our largest exporters in this industry.
With temperatures that are mild or warm and humid, power consumption can be affected by demand on cooling, ventilation and dehumidifier usage. And there are days in which Tauranga homes need heating. Interestingly 52% use a heat pump, which is more than the national average of 47%. This is potentially explained by heatpump’s dual function as both cooling and heating.
Make use of the best natural dryer in Tauranga – it’s free!
Sun and solar
While solar power isn’t a simple decision – there are several factors to consider – Tauranga’s weather is a strong argument for the benefits. You’ll just want to make sure the benefits stack up with the initial cost.
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More light, more power
Photons from the sun hit solar panels - so when there’s a clear sunny day, more of these will reach the cells and generate more power. That doesn’t mean overcast days won’t generate energy, but those 2,300+ hours of sunshine will certainly come in handy.
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Check your roof
It’s important to ensure your roof is in great condition before getting too far down the path of solar energy. The hassle and cost of removing solar to fix a roof can be significant. You should also determine if your roof’s aspect and space will generate the level of power you’re hoping for.
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Great for Growers
One of the best cases for solar energy in Bay of Plenty would be in the horticulture / growing industry. Orchards and plots management demands power for various processes including seeding and irrigation. Introducing solar panels into the operation can make for a more sustainable farming practice and reduce costs.
Driving an EV in BOP
In 2023, 13% of all new light vehicles registered in Bay of Plenty were electric. While this number has dropped down following the removal of rebates and introduction of road user charges, there are still plenty of EVs around the city.
If you’ve ever been stuck in afternoon rush hour in Tauranga, you could appreciate the benefit of having an electric car that doesn’t consume energy the same way a petrol or diesel car does at standstill or slow speeds.
And while climbing the Kamai range might use extra battery like it does fuel, remember coming back down again will take advantage of regenerative braking, where kinetic energy is converted back into electrical energy to give the vehicle more range.
If you own an EV or are considering one for driving around Tauranga, you can take advantage of Meridian’s EV plan. You can also charge out and about via the Zero network of EV charging stations.
Charging infrastructure is growing across Bay of Plenty.
New build in Bay of Plenty?
Are you building your dream home at the Mount or perhaps working on a large residential development project? Don’t forget to think about utilities.
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Step one:
Arranging power to be supplied to a new build can range from fairly simple to quite complicated. You or the project manager of the build will need to talk with council and the lines company (in Tauranga that’s Powerco) to get a site visit and quote done.
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Step two:
Chat to your power retailer of choice (such as Meridian) as we can help arrange things like the power metering and any other connection support you might need.
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Step three:
The work is carried out to provide power (and often internet, phone etc at the same time) to your property or properties. It’s important to leave this work to designated contractors assigned to the job given the safety risks and expertise they have.
Power outage support
Have you lost power in Tauranga or the Bay of Plenty region?
Check out our resource on power outages for more information. The lines company can provide status updates on planned or unplanned outages including regional faults. If the problem is localised to your home, then you can get in touch with us for help.
Bay business
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Business power plans
Looking for a reliable, friendly partner to supply your business’ electricity? Meridian’s business power plans and expert business specialists make it a breeze.
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EV charging points at your business
We can work with your Tauranga-based sites to install world-class charging points. We take care of everything from planning to ongoing support.
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Solar solutions
Running a large scale business? Our team can support businesses from shopping malls to farms to plan, install and manage solar systems.
Our work with Tauranga’s community
Farms have very specific needs when it comes to their power. That’s why we offer a dedicated farm plan and rural team to best service the agri sector. Whether you’re a Kiwifruit grower in Te Puke or a Dairy Farmer in Whakatāne, we’ve got your back.
Power made easy for holiday homes
Whether you’ve got a bach at Papamoa or a spot somewhere else in the North or South Island, you can use our bach plan. This allows you to pay for power used and avoid the typical daily charge – provided you’re a Meridian customer for your main home.
Tauranga locals, you're living in the ultimate holiday home paradise!
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.