Investing for tomorrow, today


We intend to apply for a customised price-quality path (CPP or customised path) for the five-year period 01 April 2027 to 31 March 2032. You can find out more about this process below.

We’re currently preparing a proposal to submit to the Commerce Commission in June 2026.

The Commission sets how much revenue we can earn from the lines charges you pay, and the minimum service quality we must deliver. We’re applying for a customised path to make sure we have the revenue needed to provide the safe, reliable, resilient and future-ready network our customers depend on.


Why we're applying for a customised path

Electricity is becoming the energy of choice for powering homes, vehicles, businesses, and innovation across our region. As Canterbury grows and evolves, so do the demands on our network. We've listened to our customers and community and understand the need for a safe, reliable, and resilient electricity network that’s ready for the future. We know our customers expect a dependable supply of electricity – power when and where it’s needed. At the same time, we understand the financial pressures many homes and businesses face, and we’re committed to keeping electricity affordable.

Customer energy use is also changing, with technologies like solar, batteries, and electric vehicles enabling electricity to flow both ways across the network. These innovations offer more flexibility, helping us manage demand, reduce upgrade costs, and keep prices down.

To deliver on this cleaner and brighter future and respond to the needs and expectations of our community, we’ve identified five key investment drivers.






Have your say

The Consultation Document available here summarises our proposed customised price-quality path application.

It includes our draft investment plans. These plans have been shaped by customer feedback gathered during the earlier customer consultation on our 2025 Asset Management Plan Update published on 01 April.

Between 5 November and 15 December 2025, we consulted with customers and stakeholders over our draft proposal. In early 2026 we will review feedback, refine our investment plans, and produce a final proposal to submit to the Commerce Commission in June.

While formal consultation on our proposed customised path plan has now closed, we still value your input. If you’d like to share feedback, please email us at haveyoursay@oriongroup.co.nz.nz. You can also write to us at: The Orion Group, 565 Wairakei Road, Burnside, Christchurch 8053.




How our prices are set

The Commerce Commission sets a default price-quality path (DPP) for most electricity distribution businesses in New Zealand. This determines the total allowable revenue that we can charge over a five-year period, as well as the level of service that we must provide. This is a one-size-fits-all approach for setting revenue allowances.

Alternatively, a customised price-quality path (CPP) allows electricity distribution businesses to request different revenue limits when the default approach doesn't meet their specific needs and circumstances. The Commerce Commission will look closely at Orion’s proposal to decide if it's appropriate and in the best interests of our customers.


Our engagement approach

It's important that we understand your needs as we make decisions about the future of our network. In addition to gathering your feedback through consultation questionnaires, we have four engagement activity streams to ensure we use different methods and channels to reach our diverse customer, stakeholder and community sectors.

  • Customer Advisory Panel: Community representatives provide feedback on our investment plans
  • Powerful Conversations: Workshops to explore complex issues with customers
  • Connected Conversations: Online forums with business customers and stakeholder organisations
  • Community Conversations: Engaging the community through advertising, newsletters, surveys, social posts and website updates

Find out more about our engagement programme here.




We intend to apply for a customised price-quality path (CPP or customised path) for the five-year period 01 April 2027 to 31 March 2032. You can find out more about this process below.

We’re currently preparing a proposal to submit to the Commerce Commission in June 2026.

The Commission sets how much revenue we can earn from the lines charges you pay, and the minimum service quality we must deliver. We’re applying for a customised path to make sure we have the revenue needed to provide the safe, reliable, resilient and future-ready network our customers depend on.


Why we're applying for a customised path

Electricity is becoming the energy of choice for powering homes, vehicles, businesses, and innovation across our region. As Canterbury grows and evolves, so do the demands on our network. We've listened to our customers and community and understand the need for a safe, reliable, and resilient electricity network that’s ready for the future. We know our customers expect a dependable supply of electricity – power when and where it’s needed. At the same time, we understand the financial pressures many homes and businesses face, and we’re committed to keeping electricity affordable.

Customer energy use is also changing, with technologies like solar, batteries, and electric vehicles enabling electricity to flow both ways across the network. These innovations offer more flexibility, helping us manage demand, reduce upgrade costs, and keep prices down.

To deliver on this cleaner and brighter future and respond to the needs and expectations of our community, we’ve identified five key investment drivers.






Have your say

The Consultation Document available here summarises our proposed customised price-quality path application.

It includes our draft investment plans. These plans have been shaped by customer feedback gathered during the earlier customer consultation on our 2025 Asset Management Plan Update published on 01 April.

Between 5 November and 15 December 2025, we consulted with customers and stakeholders over our draft proposal. In early 2026 we will review feedback, refine our investment plans, and produce a final proposal to submit to the Commerce Commission in June.

While formal consultation on our proposed customised path plan has now closed, we still value your input. If you’d like to share feedback, please email us at haveyoursay@oriongroup.co.nz.nz. You can also write to us at: The Orion Group, 565 Wairakei Road, Burnside, Christchurch 8053.




How our prices are set

The Commerce Commission sets a default price-quality path (DPP) for most electricity distribution businesses in New Zealand. This determines the total allowable revenue that we can charge over a five-year period, as well as the level of service that we must provide. This is a one-size-fits-all approach for setting revenue allowances.

Alternatively, a customised price-quality path (CPP) allows electricity distribution businesses to request different revenue limits when the default approach doesn't meet their specific needs and circumstances. The Commerce Commission will look closely at Orion’s proposal to decide if it's appropriate and in the best interests of our customers.


Our engagement approach

It's important that we understand your needs as we make decisions about the future of our network. In addition to gathering your feedback through consultation questionnaires, we have four engagement activity streams to ensure we use different methods and channels to reach our diverse customer, stakeholder and community sectors.

  • Customer Advisory Panel: Community representatives provide feedback on our investment plans
  • Powerful Conversations: Workshops to explore complex issues with customers
  • Connected Conversations: Online forums with business customers and stakeholder organisations
  • Community Conversations: Engaging the community through advertising, newsletters, surveys, social posts and website updates

Find out more about our engagement programme here.



Page last updated: 22 Dec 2025, 02:48 PM