36221 (2025). Hon Dr Megan Woods to the Minister for Energy

36221 (2025). Hon Dr Megan Woods to the Minister for Energy: what advice, if any, has he received on firming capacity needed for solving the dry year problem?

Hon Simon Watts: I have received advice that New Zealand's electricity system currently faces significant seasonal energy risks during dry years and that there is a need for more firm and flexible generation, including forms of energy storage, to reduce these risks. We have commissioned an independent review of the electricity market's performance to advise on whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity. The Government is carefully considering the review's findings and I will have more to say on its outcomes soon.