91% of Aucklanders say no to higher power bills to subsidise big business, Entrust survey finds
12 February 2026
Auckland power consumers overwhelmingly oppose paying higher electricity bills to
subsidise big business and industrial users, according to new survey results.
“These results send a very clear message,” Entrust Chair Denise Lee said.
"Households do not support imposing more and more costs on consumers to the benefit of big business.”
The Entrust Auckland Consumer Electricity Survey 2025 found:
- 91 percent of respondents do not support higher household power bills to subsidise big business
- Three-quarters of respondents support a user-pays model for business connections
- Only 7 percent support residential and other existing customers paying higher bills.
The findings are highly relevant as the Electricity Authority considers changes to
distribution pricing that could affect how connection costs are allocated between
households and businesses. Entrust warns that the Electricity Authority’s proposals for
distribution pricing could make small businesses and households worse off.
The Electricity Authority is proposing to limit capital contributions (what customers pay
towards the cost of extending or upgrading the electricity network to establish a new
connection) and connection charges. While they intend to encourage new connections,
Ms Lee says the changes as proposed would result in higher electricity bills for residentialand mass-market consumers.
Entrust encourages the Electricity Authority to take heed of its counterparts at the
Commerce Commission, which considers that capital contributions have an important
role to play in ensuring new connections “pay their way” and do not impose additional
costs on the existing consumer base.