The Electricity Commission promotes and facilitates electricity efficiency and conservation, reflecting the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Electricity Governance and the Electricity Act 1992 (Act). Its brief includes funding of programmes to provide incentives for cost effective electricity efficiency and conservation. Funding for the programmes is via a levy on the electricity industry.

Cost-effective electricity efficiency can benefit consumers by:

• reducing energy consumption while maintaining or bettering lifestyle (including health) and productivity;
• helping defer expensive investment in new generation and transmission; and 
• contributing to New Zealand's wider environmental policy.
  

Cost-effective efficiency investment opportunities are known to exist in all sectors of the economy, but historically, uptake of these opportunities has been low. However, with rising electricity prices and increasing awareness of the environmental costs of fossil fuel fired electricity generation, consumers and government have become increasingly concerned that all cost-effective electricity efficiency options are explored.

The Commission’s approach to electricity efficiency has sought to determine the sectors and technologies where the greatest potential for cost-effective electricity efficiency exists, then in each case identify the barriers to investment in electricity efficiency initiatives and implement programmes that achieve sustainable, cost-effective electricity savings. 

Commission policy is to work in a coordinated manner with other government agencies, such as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), in applying its levy funds to electricity efficiency projects.

A Guide to the Electricity Efficiency Work Stream at the Electricity Commission

This document outlines the framework of the Electricity Commission’s electricity efficiency workstream and specific elements of the main programmes.  It identifies the technical and economic research on which the programmes are based and describes key initiatives in the industrial and commercial sectors, and for lighting technologies. It also describes outcomes achieved to date.

• A Guide to the Electricity Efficiency Work Stream at the Electricity Commission pdf [90 KB]
  

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