Distribution charges discount
Benefiting our Northland consumers
Each year, Northpower along with the Northpower Electricity Trust pay a discount to customers connected to our network. Over the last eight years the discount has more than doubled due to the strong financial performance and growth of the Northpower group.
In May 2026, Northpower will pay a discount to all connected customers totaling an estimated $16.8m. This discount will be capped to a maximum payment of $275.22 (plus GST) per eligible ICP, the payment will be applied as a credit on your electricity bill.
Over the last year, we have transitioned the annual payment from December to May (to meet accounting and tax compliance purposes) by splitting the total discount into two payments, as the below timeline shows (amounts exclude GST).
Timelines shows the discount per year and when this was paid, from 2022 to 2026. Amounts exclude GST.
The amount each consumer receives for each eligible ICP will be determined by the usage between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 based on information supplied to Northpower by electricity retailers. The amount per ICP will be calculated using the discount rates in our full pricing schedule.
For information on the discount for the year ending March 2025, click here
Pricing discount FAQs
A pricing discount is a discount on Northpower’s electricity distribution charges. The saving from this price reduction is paid out to consumers by being credited to your electricity bill in May or June.
The discount payment will be applied as a credit on the electricity bill from the ICP’s current electricity retailer in May or June. However, retailers sometimes pay this earlier than expected.
This discount will be capped to a maximum payment of $275.22 (plus GST) per eligible ICP (up from $260.68 last year), and payment will be applied as a credit on your electricity bill. The amount each customer receives is determined by electricity usage between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 based on information supplied to Northpower by electricity retailers. The amount will be calculated using the discount rates in our full pricing schedule.
To qualify as an eligible ICP, an ICP must be supplied from the Northpower electricity network with a registry status of “Active” (Connected) on the date we calculate the distribution discount, and be a current customer of an electricity retailer on that date for the respective discount payment.
Yes – and it does not matter which electricity retailer you are with. All retailers are required to pass-through the pricing discount they receive from Northpower on to their customers.
The timing of our discount payment has changed from November to May annually.
Over the last year, we have transitioned the annual payment from December to May by splitting the total discount into two payments – December 2024 and May 2025. In May this year you will have received a discount payment of up to $155. The next payment you receive will be the full discount paid annually in May 2026.
This change to payment timing is required to meet accounting and tax compliance purposes, where discounts should be paid after the end of the financial year.
The pricing discount is a discount or reduction to Northpower’s distribution prices.
It is calculated on your use of electricity by using a discount rate per pricing tariff.
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