Frosty Weather Sets New Record for Electricity Demand in New Zealand

New Zealand's electricity demand has reached record highs for two consecutive days due to freezing temperatures across the country. On Thursday, average electricity demand peaked at 7,415 megawatts (MW), surpassing the previous record of 7,247 MW by 168 MW.

This is equivalent to the power consumption of Hamilton, New Zealand's fourth-most populous city. Transpower Chief Executive James Kilty stated that very cold temperatures and low wind conditions have put significant pressure on the electricity system.

The freezing weather has caused disruptions in travel across the country, with rare snow flurries reported in Wellington. Consumer NZ has expressed concerns over the rising cost of keeping homes warm, citing a 177% increase in household power costs since 1999, nearly twice the rate of inflation.