Coal fills the gas and hydro-electricity generation gap

Coal fills the gas and hydro-electricity generation gap
Huntly was running hot with coal in the June quarter. (Image: NZME)
Ian Llewellyn
Coal used to generate electricity increased sharply between April and June as it filled in for a lack of gas to cover falling hydro lake levels, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment statistics show.The quarter covers the period where the scramble for gas was under way, but before wholesale electricity prices hit record-high sustained levels in July and August.Coal-based electricity generation increased to 883 gigawatt hours (GWh) for the quarter, compared to 144 GWh of generation in the same quarter last year, data from the Energy Qu...

More Energy

EA flags cost-shifting in connection charges
Infrastructure

EA flags cost-shifting in connection charges

The electricity regulator links connection charges to cost-shifting onto new customers. 

Ian Llewellyn 17 Nov 2025
Election politics weigh on gentailer valuations
Markets

Election politics weigh on gentailer valuations

Political noise and manoeuvring are distorting the electricity market again.

Ian Llewellyn 12 Nov 2025
Electricity Authority launches review as questions linger
Policy Analysis

Electricity Authority launches review as questions linger

The review has been described as a ‘rare opportunity for genuine transformation’. 

Ian Llewellyn 10 Nov 2025
War on Nature v Going for Growth
Opinion

Pattrick Smellie: War on Nature v Going for Growth

Some big environmental eggs were broken this week to 'go for growth'.

Pattrick Smellie 07 Nov 2025