Energy hardship
There are many underlying, and often complex, causes of energy hardship and any solution will need to address these issues across a number of fronts.
On this page
There are a number of initiatives underway across government that are helping address energy hardship. This section includes some initiatives MBIE is progressing based on recommendations in the 2019 Electricity Price Review.
The Electricity Price Review webpage outlines other MBIE-led work to create a more consumer-focused electricity market, more affordable prices and better prepare the market for future changes, based on the review’s recommendations.
MBIE’s Energy Hardship Update is our new regular e-news about efforts to reduce energy hardship in New Zealand.
Subscribe to the Energy Hardship Update(external link)
The first issue is available on our Energy Hardship Update webpage.
In this section
Support for Energy Education in Communities Programme
The Support for Energy Education in Communities (SEEC) Programme is part of a suite of new government initiatives to lift people out of energy hardship.
Defining energy hardship
MBIE is working to develop an agreed definition of energy hardship, and associated indicators to assist with measuring and tracking energy hardship over time.
Energy hardship expert panel and reference group
Government has agreed to establish an Energy Hardship Expert Panel to recommend policy priorities and actions to alleviate energy hardship in New Zealand. Government is also establishing an Energy Hardship Reference Group to provide a forum to share information and encourage coordination across industry, NGOs and government agencies.