Northland households will pay about $20 more a year from April as line companies increase their charges.
Far North will again see the highest rise as Top Energy hikes its line charge by 7 per cent, which will result in each household paying about 2 per cent overall or $20 more a year. It follows an increase last year of between $35 and $40 for Mercury and Genesis customers in the Far North.
An analysis of the cost of the cheapest electricity supplier change between February 2011 and February 2014 showed residential charges in the Far North had risen by $457, compared with the national average of $243.70.
Line company Northpower will increase its distribution price by 2.5 per cent from April and major power companies Meridian, Mercury and Genesis have signalled an annual hike in their prices of just under $20 for customers in Whangarei and Kaipara.
Contact, Trustpower and Nova are not raising their prices in Northland this year.