Who is Aurora Energy?
Aurora Energy is one of the largest electricity networks in Aotearoa New Zealand. We own and manage the network that delivers electricity to some of the fastest growing areas and over the most diverse terrain in Te Waipounamu, the South Island. We take the power from Transpower’s national grid to power your home, business and the wider community, and deliver a safe, reliable and sustainable electricity supply across Ōtākou in Ōtepoti Dunedin, Central Otago, Wānaka
and Tāhuna Queenstown to over 200,000 people.
Climate change and reducing carbon emissions is changing how we all think about energy. Our network must be able to support the rapidly growing region and the growth of electrification. We are focused on planning for the future to ensure our network has the capacity to support customer’s changing needs, and create a future where choice is central to how customers use energy – whether it be to charge electric vehicles or connect solar to homes or businesses.
We also want to help customers understand how to lower overall energy costs by actively managing how electricity is used at critical times of the day.
Aurora Energy is at the centre of a shared, dynamic and flexible energy system, driven by how we collaborate with our partners.
Together with our contractors we are delivering a large work programme and investing over $500 million across the region, to ensure the future resilience of the area, as well as upgrading existing assets. Our plans align with council spatial plans, support our stakeholders and position our communities for the future.
We know a sustainable, secure and efficient energy supply is important to our customers and it’s important to us too. We acknowledge the impact our organisation has on our surroundings and we have a responsibility to deliver for our customer’s social, environmental and economic interests. We respect iwi values for how natural resources should be managed and the impact Aurora Energy has on the environment, by honouring the Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
We are there for our customers 24/7, delivering you power through our network on average over 99% of the time.
Aurora Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dunedin City Holdings Limited, which is owned by the Dunedin City Council. Our principal regulators are the Commerce Commission and the Electricity Authority.
Why Aurora Energy?
Here in Te Waipounamu, the South Island, there is no better place to see Tahu-nui-a-rangi, the Aurora Australis. The Aurora lights up where we live, and Aurora Energy’s job is to light up our community.
Energy speaks to our role in enabling the energy future of our communities, and our stars represent the Southern Cross and honours the stars that connect us to the lights.
Our work
Find out more about our network and what we do to power your home, business and the wider community.
Our partners
We value the ongoing relationships we have with our partners and other stakeholders.
From the Archives
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Workers on the lines Electricity Department c1920s - Photo Credit DCC Archives
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Cable laying in Manse and Princess Street c1910 - Photo Credit DCC Archives
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Dunedin Festival Float Representing DCC Electricity Department 1961 - Photo Credit DCC Archives
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Horse Transport Lawrence to Waipori - Photo Credit DCC Archives
Our milestones
Here's a look at some of Aurora Energy's major milestones including a look back on our legacy years.
| Year | Milestone |
| 2024 |
Aurora Energy 20-year anniversary of sponsoring Otago Science & Technology Fair Andersons Bay Substation completed (Dunedin) Started phasing in time-of-use pricing |
| 2023 |
New 33 kV underground cable installed from Frankton to Malaghans Road (Arrowtown) Launched a new website with real time, interactive, power outages map Implemented a new Outage Management System Published second Annual Delivery Report |
| 2022 |
Winner of Community Initiative and Network Initiative of the Year Awards at the 2022 Energy Awards Published first Annual Delivery Report, a requirement under our five-year customised price-quality path (CPP), and held community engagement events Worked in challenging conditions alongside FENZ and DOC to get power restored following a scrub fire near Wānaka Completed three months of work in three weeks in the Port Chalmers/Aramoana area by bundling projects to reduce customer impact (Dunedin) |
| 2021 |
First year of Customised Price-quality Path Outram Substation completed (Dunedin) B-LINE 33 kV Rebuild Stage 1 – Berwick to Outram (Dunedin) Harbour Crossing Submarine Cable / Tower Removal (Dunedin) Cromwell Substation completed (Cromwell) |
| 2019 |
Two new 33 kV underground cables installed to Smith Street (Dunedin) Riverbank Switchyard completed (Wānaka) |
| 2018 | Carisbrook Substation completed (Dunedin) |
| 2017 |
Two new 33kilovolt underground cables installed to Neville Street, Dunedin New Board and Executive Leadership Team appointed |
Legacy years
| Year | Milestone |
| 2015 |
Lauder Flat substation completed (Omakau) Camp Hill substation completed (Hawea) Ōtākou voltage upgrade project completed (Dunedin) Lindis Crossing substation completed (Cromwell) |
| 2014 | Two new 33 kV underground cable circuits installed in Andersons Bay, Dunedin |
| 2010 | Commonage substation completed (Queenstown) |
| 2003 | On 1 July, Dunedin Electricity becomes Aurora Energy Limited to reflect the inclusion of Queenstown, Central Otago and Dunedin in the network coverage. |
| 2001 | Dunedin Electricity purchases the line business assets of Central Electric Ltd, becoming New Zealand’s fifth largest lines company. |
| 1998 |
The Electricity Industry Reform Act is passed, requiring full ownership separation of distribution (lines) businesses from supply (retail and generation) businesses Dunedin Electricity's owner sells its shares in Waipori Power and United Electricity, effecting full ownership separation of line and energy activities Delta Utility Services Limited is formed, to separate competitive asset servicing activities from Dunedin Electricity's regulated delivery business |
| 1997 | Dunedin Electricity anticipates industry restructuring and sells its shareholding in electricity retailer United Electricity to generator Waipori Power Generation |
| 1993 |
Dunedin Electricity quits electricity retailing, selling its retail activities to the newly formed United Electricity Limited, in which it retains a 42% shareholding |
| 1990 | Dunedin City Council establishes its electricity generation and distribution functions as separate companies, Dunedin Electricity Limited and Waipori Power Generation Limited respectively |
| 1907 | Waipori Falls Hydroelectric Company is acquired by Dunedin City Council, which commences electricity distribution and subsequently appliance retailing, operating as the Dunedin City Council Electricity and Gas Department |
| 1904 | Waipori Falls Hydroelectric Company Limited begins construction of the Waipori power scheme |