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Transporting power

Operating the National Grid

Transpower transports bulk power from areas of generation to areas of demand. We don’t sell or buy electricity – just transport it for others like generator and lines companies. They pay us to use our assets, but by the time the power gets to your home or business we make up just a small proportion of your electricity bill – on average around 8%.

Towers, poles, lines, cables and substations stretching and connecting the length and breadth of the country represent our asset base - known as the National Grid. It includes:

11, 806 route kms of high voltage transmission line
41, 195 supporting towers and poles
173 substations
1122 transformers

More asset information

Managing New Zealand’s power system

As System Operator, Transpower manages the power system in real time to ensure energy is flowing to where it is needed 24/7. We do this under contract from the Electricity Commission.

Find out more about the System Operator