Photo: suppliedStewart Island-Rakiura residents are bracing themselves for a surge in power prices, or losing power altogether, as rising fuel costs threaten to hit the island’s diesel-generated electricity system. Residents were being charged about 84c a unit for their power, but he did not want to speculate on how prices would change, he said. "While [the electricity supply authority] does have reserves, this is not specifically held as a buffer for fuel prices. However, Cr Spraggon said rising fuel prices were not just hitting residents via the power meter. If the island’s fuel supply ran dry, it would also affect the wastewater system.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 18, 2026 16:45 UTC