Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
Business and energy leaders across the upper North Island have released their plan to overhaul the energy sector.
The Northern Infrastructure Forum was created last year after business leaders were concerned the cost of electricity was closing industry and hurting margins.
The spot price - what a lot of major industrial users choose to pay, mixed with some forward contracts - soared in August 2024 - and led businesses like Winstone Pulp International to choose to shut their business.
The business leaders' 10-point plan includes creating one authority to make key decisions, having sufficient back-up for dry years and allowing for major users to have longer energy contracts than what are available now.
Barney Irvine is executive director of the Northern Infrastructure Forum and he will be presenting this plan to the public later this afternoon.
The NIF includes major employers in the upper North Island such as Vector, KiwiRail and the Ports of Auckland.
