Contact Energy
A major New Zealand electricity generator, energy retailer, and natural-gas wholesaler.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Contact Energy Limited is a New Zealand energy company whose activities span electricity generation, wholesale natural gas, electricity retailing, natural-gas retailing, broadband, and LPG. Its generation portfolio has historically combined hydroelectricity, geothermal generation, gas-fired thermal capacity, and diesel peaking capability. The company is one of the largest participants in New Zealand's electricity market and has operated both as a wholesale generator and as a consumer-facing retailer. The business emerged from the restructuring of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (ECNZ) during the reform of the country's electricity sector. Contact was incorporated in November 1995, became a state-owned enterprise shortly afterward, and began operating in February 1996 after acquiring generation and retail-related assets from ECNZ. Its establishment created a separate commercial generator and retailer at a time when New Zealand was reorganizing the ownership and operation of electricity assets. Contact was privatized and listed in 1999. Edison Mission Energy became the cornerstone shareholder, while the balance of the shares was offered to the public. Edison later increased its holding, and in 2004 sold its interest to Origin Energy. Origin subsequently sold its majority shareholding to the market in 2015, leaving Contact as a widely held listed company. These ownership changes were part of a broader transformation of New Zealand's electricity sector from state-dominated structures toward a mixture of listed generators, retailers, and network businesses. The company's generation base has included five geothermal stations in the Taupo region, gas-fired facilities at Hamilton and Stratford, hydroelectric assets on the Clutha River, and a diesel-fired station near Napier. Contact has also owned or developed other facilities during its history, including the Ahuroa underground gas-storage project with Origin Energy. Several proposed or former developments did not proceed: the company discontinued or sold a number of older thermal assets, withdrew from selected wind and hydro proposals, and abandoned an LNG-import project developed with Genesis Energy after the proposal was repeatedly revised and ultimately shelved. Contact's retail business has expanded beyond electricity and gas. During the post-1999 electricity-market restructuring, it acquired retail customer bases associated with numerous local electricity companies across New Zealand. It later added broadband services, selling fibre and copper-based connectivity in bundles with energy products, and used Devoli as a network-services provider for its resold broadband offering from 2020. The company has increasingly emphasized renewable generation, particularly geothermal and hydroelectric power, while retaining flexible thermal generation to support system reliability. In 2021 it approved construction of the Tauhara geothermal project, a major generation investment that opened in November 2024 according to the referenced account. Contact therefore combines large-scale generation with retail relationships, positioning itself as an integrated energy provider in New Zealand rather than solely as a power-station operator.
History
Contact Energy was created during the reorganization of New Zealand's electricity industry in the mid-1990s. The company was incorporated on 8 November 1995 and became a state-owned enterprise later that month. It began operations on 1 February 1996 after acquiring electricity-generation and related assets from the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand for a reported consideration of NZ$1.6 billion. Paul Anthony, its founding chief executive, played a central role in establishing Contact as a distinct commercial organization rather than simply another operating division of ECNZ. The company's early development coincided with reforms intended to separate electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and retail activities. In 1999, local electricity companies were generally divided between network businesses and retail operations. Contact expanded its retail footprint by acquiring customer bases associated with a wide range of regional electricity companies, including businesses connected with Top Energy, Counties Power, Eastland Network, Unison, Electra, Network Tasman, MainPower, Alpine Energy, Aurora Energy, the Power Company, and Electricity Invercargill. Contact was privatized and listed in 1999. Edison Mission Energy purchased a 40 percent cornerstone interest, while the remaining shares were sold to the public. Edison later increased its ownership to 51 percent. In 2004, Edison transferred its holding to Origin Energy, which became Contact's major shareholder. Origin eventually sold its approximately 53 percent interest to the market in 2015. The sale marked Contact's transition to broad public ownership and removed the controlling shareholder that had dominated the company for more than a decade. Generation has remained the foundation of Contact's business. Its portfolio has included geothermal stations near Taupo, gas-turbine facilities at Hamilton and Stratford, hydroelectric dams on the Clutha River, and a diesel-fuelled plant near Napier. The company also operated or owned assets that were later retired, sold, or transferred. In 2001 it decommissioned FT4 twinpac open-cycle units at Stratford and Whirinaki and sold the equipment offshore. The New Plymouth Power Station was sold in 2013 to Port Taranaki and Methanex New Zealand, while the Otahuhu site, including the former Otahuhu A and Otahuhu B facilities, was sold in 2016. Contact pursued several additional development and infrastructure projects. With Edison Mission Energy it developed the Valley Power peaking facility near Traralgon in Australia, later selling the project in 2005. Contact and Genesis Energy formed Gasbridge to investigate LNG importation. A proposed terminal at Port Taranaki generated controversy, and the project was subsequently reconsidered as an offshore facility before being shelved and the joint venture wound up. Contact and Origin also developed the Ahuroa gas-storage facility in a depleted Taranaki reservoir. The company periodically reduced or redirected its development pipeline. In 2012 it chose not to proceed with several proposed Clutha River hydro schemes, while a Lake Hawea development was expected to be completed later. In 2013, Contact and Taheke 8C Incorporated delayed the Taheke geothermal project because of market conditions. Contact also exited the Hauāurumāraki wind proposal in 2013 and allowed the consent for the Waitahora Wind Farm to lapse in 2016. The 2008 financial crisis produced one of the company's most difficult episodes. Contact raised prices by as much as 12 percent and, according to the referenced account, lost more than 40,000 customers in six months, equivalent to about one-tenth of its customer base. Profit was reported to have halved, and the company described the episode as its most serious reputational damage at that time. The event illustrated the commercial and political sensitivity of pricing decisions in New Zealand's competitive retail-energy market. Contact continued to broaden its consumer proposition. In 2017 it entered broadband retailing, offering fibre and copper-based services alongside energy plans. From 2020, Devoli provided network services for the broadband product that Contact resold. The company also maintained electricity and gas retailing while developing renewable generation. In 2021, it approved the Tauhara geothermal project, which opened in November 2024 according to the referenced material. The project reinforced the company's long-term emphasis on geothermal generation and lower-emissions electricity while preserving a portfolio that also includes hydro and flexible thermal capacity.
- 2024
Tauhara project opens
[1]The Tauhara geothermal project opened in November.
- 2021
Tauhara geothermal project approved
[1]Contact approved development of the Tauhara geothermal project.
- 2017
Broadband service launched
[1]Contact began retailing broadband over fibre and copper networks as an extension of its consumer-services portfolio.
- 2016
Otahuhu Power Station sold
[1]Contact sold the Otahuhu Power Station site and associated facilities.
- 2015
Origin exits its Contact holding
[1]Origin Energy sold its majority shareholding to the market.
- 2013
New Plymouth station sold
[1]The previously decommissioned New Plymouth Power Station was sold to Port Taranaki and Methanex New Zealand.
- 2004
Origin Energy becomes major shareholder
[1]Origin Energy acquired Edison Mission Energy's Contact Energy shareholding.
- 2001
FT4 generation units decommissioned
[1]Contact retired FT4 twinpac open-cycle units at Stratford and Whirinaki and sold the equipment offshore.
- 1999
Privatization and public listing
[1]Edison Mission Energy became the cornerstone shareholder and the remainder of the company was sold through a public share offering.
- 1996
Operations commence
[1]Contact began operating in February after acquiring assets from the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand.
Products and positioning
An integrated New Zealand energy provider combining large-scale renewable and flexible thermal generation with electricity, gas, broadband, and LPG retail services.
Power generation · 1996
Electricity generation
Contact's core asset base consists of electricity-generation facilities across New Zealand. Its portfolio has included geothermal stations near Taupo, hydroelectric generation on the Clutha River, gas-fired turbine facilities at Hamilton and Stratford, and diesel generation near Napier. The mix gives the company exposure to renewable baseload generation as well as dispatchable capacity that can support changing demand and supply conditions.
Energy retail · 1996
Electricity retail
Contact sells electricity to residential and business customers in New Zealand. Its retail presence expanded substantially after the 1999 sector reforms, when it acquired customer bases from numerous regional electricity companies. The retail business connects Contact's generation and wholesale activities with end users through electricity plans and related customer services.
Gas retail and wholesale · 1996
Natural gas
Contact participates in the natural-gas market as a wholesaler and retailer. Gas has also supported the company's flexible generation portfolio, including gas-fired facilities in the North Island. The company was involved in the Ahuroa underground gas-storage development with Origin Energy and separately investigated LNG importation through the Gasbridge joint venture with Genesis Energy.
Telecommunications retail · 2017
Broadband
Contact entered broadband retailing in 2017, offering fibre and copper-based connectivity alongside energy services. The product was designed as a bundled consumer offering rather than as a separate network-ownership business. From 2020, Contact used Devoli as a network-services provider for the broadband service it resold.
Fuel retail
LPG
LPG is part of Contact Energy's broader retail portfolio. It complements the company's electricity and natural-gas products by providing a further household and business energy option in the New Zealand market.
Renewable generation · 2024
Tauhara geothermal project
Tauhara is a major geothermal-generation development in the Taupo region. Contact decided to proceed with the project in 2021, reinforcing its focus on renewable generation. The facility opened in November 2024 according to the referenced account and represents a significant expansion of Contact's geothermal capacity.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2021
Proceed with the Tauhara geothermal projectProduct launchBackground
Contact sought to expand its renewable-generation portfolio through a new geothermal project in the Taupo region.
Action taken
The company approved development of the Tauhara geothermal project.
Aftermath
The project opened in November 2024 and added renewable generation capacity to Contact's operating portfolio.
Reported project investment. NZ$580 million (Project approved in 2021; opening reported in November 2024)
2016
Allow Waitahora wind consent to lapseStrategyBackground
Contact held consent associated with the proposed Waitahora Wind Farm near Dannevirke in the Tararua district.
Action taken
The company allowed the consent to lapse.
Aftermath
The proposed wind farm was not built.
2013
Delay Taheke geothermal developmentStrategyBackground
Contact and Taheke 8C Incorporated assessed a proposed geothermal development amid changing electricity-market conditions.
Action taken
The Taheke joint venture delayed development of the geothermal field.
Aftermath
The project was not advanced on the original timetable.
2013
Exit the Hauāurumāraki wind proposalStrategyBackground
Contact had been involved in a proposed wind-generation development on the Waikato coast.
Action taken
The company decided to leave the Hauāurumāraki wind project.
Aftermath
Contact's development portfolio shifted away from that proposed wind project.
2012
Withdraw from selected Clutha hydro developmentsStrategyBackground
Contact had considered additional hydroelectric developments on the Clutha River and a Lake Hawea project.
Action taken
The company decided not to proceed with proposed schemes at Queensbury, Luggate, Tuapeka, and Beaumont.
Aftermath
The decision narrowed the immediate hydro-development pipeline while other generation investments remained under consideration.
2009
Shelve the Gasbridge LNG-import projectStrategyBackground
Contact and Genesis Energy had investigated importing LNG through the Gasbridge joint venture. A proposed Port Taranaki terminal attracted controversy and the concept was later reconsidered as an offshore facility.
Action taken
The LNG project did not proceed and the Gasbridge venture was wound up.
Aftermath
Contact retained its existing gas-market activities but did not develop the proposed LNG-import terminal.
2008
Increase retail prices during the financial crisisPrice changeBackground
During the global financial crisis, Contact faced difficult market conditions and increased prices by as much as 12 percent.
Action taken
The company implemented price increases across its retail business.
Aftermath
The move was followed by the loss of more than 40,000 customers over six months and a reported halving of profit. Contact described the episode as its worst reputational setback at the time.
Reported profit. Approximately half the previous level (Six months following the 2008 price increases)
Recent events
Contact Energy announces Sandra Dodds' board appointment[4]
Reported:
Contact Energy announced that Sandra Dodds would join its board as an independent director on September 1, 2021, and become chair of its Audit and Risk Committee, replacing Dame Therese Walsh, who was due to leave the board at the end of August.
Contact Energy completed acquisition of Western Energy Services[5]
Reported:
Contact Energy completed its acquisition of 100% of the shares in New Zealand-based geothermal well service company Western Energy Services on 31 March 2021. Western Energy Services will continue to operate as a separate company with its own management team and governance structures.
energyclubnz announces exit from New Zealand energy retail market[6]
Energyclubnz announced that it is exiting the New Zealand energy retail market, with its 11,600 customers’ energy supply to be switched to Contact Energy.
Contact Energy fined NZ$245,000 over fuel discount promotion[3]
Contact Energy was fined NZ$245,000 in Wellington District Court after pleading guilty to seven charges over false or misleading representations in advertising its Fuel Rewards Plans.
Sources7 sources
- 1Contact Energyen.wikipedia.org
- 2Contact Energy official websitecontact.co.nz
- 3Contact Energy fined NZ$245,000 over fuel discount promotionscoop.co.nz
- 4Contact Energy宣布任命Sandra Dodds为董事nbr.co.nz
- 5Contact Energy完成对Western Energy Services的收购thinkgeoenergy.com
- 6energyclubnz宣布退出新西兰能源零售市场scoop.co.nz
- 7Contact fined $160,000 for system failure affecting Huka Fallsrnz.co.nz
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