A widespread power outage is affecting homes and businesses in and around Hawkes Bay this morning.

Mercury Energy is raising its power prices by 5.8pc, blaming charges from the national grid operator Transpower.

Electricity consumers and taxpayers alike have been badly served by the new Electricity Authority in its first major decisio

Power will be cut for a whole day in much of the Far North next week.

Soaring wholesale power prices last week have prompted complaints from 14 organisations, including ASB bank, Telecom, Vodafone and the owner of the Marsden Point oil refinery.

Customers will be paid a weekly bonus in bid to keep electricity retailers in check