Future of gas

THE FUTURE OF GAS

Gas has played a major role in our lives and homes. But a shift is on the horizon.

THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

With declining gas production resulting in reduced supply, we've seen big shifts in wholesale gas prices over the last few years.

As a retailer of gas (we don’t produce it), we’re exposed to the wholesale market. This means changes in the wholesale price, flow through to the prices we charge.

Looking ahead, it’s likely we’ll see gas pricing continue to climb if supply challenges continue. So we think it’s important that you start to think about how your energy future is shaping up. Let’s break it down.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

continue to use what you need

There's no expectation on households or residential consumers to ration their gas use. Please continue to use what you need at home.

EXPECT PRICES TO RISE

As a country, without an increase in supply, it’s likely that we’ll see gas prices continue to rise over the short to medium term.

CONSIDER MAKING THE SWITCH

Building, renovating or replacing appliances? You might want to consider switching to electricity. Planning ahead can help to make for a smoother switch.

plan for the future

Lots of Kiwi homes use gas every day. Whether for cooking, heating or hot water – to many, it's an essential part of running their home.

Despite the challenges ahead, for now, we’ll continue to supply gas to our residential customers.

But with prices trending upward, we think it’s time to start considering how your energy future is shaping up. With knowledge and a little planning, you’ll be better informed about your options and if making the switch from gas to electricity is right for you.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Mercury Yellow Gas Icon

OLD APPLIANCES

By doing your research and planning ahead, you’ll avoid a panicked like-for-like replacement. You’ll be better prepared to install efficient options and your energy bill will thank you later.

Yellow icon of a spanner.

RENOVATING

The perfect time to re-assess how efficient your home is. Consider switching to more energy efficient electric alternatives as part of your planned upgrades.

Yellow icon of a hammer.

BUILDING NEW

Chat to your project team about designing energy efficient options into your plans. You may find that a gas connection to your property isn’t even needed.

Mercury Yellow Home Icon

RENTING

If you’re feeling the pinch of inefficient gas appliances in your rental home, chat to your landlord or property manager. They’ll be better informed when making future upgrades.

HOW'S YOUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY?

There are loads of benefits in electrifying your home — check out the helpful tools and tips below.

home energy savings calculator

Put your home to the test and see how much you could save by switching to energy efficient electric appliances.
Check out the Gen Less calculator.

LET'S GO

top tips to save energy at home

Improve your home’s energy efficiency with our energy-saving tips and guides. Small change can have a big impact — see how you can get started today.

TELL ME MORE

SHIFTING TO A RENEWABLE FUTURE

Did you know, around 85% of New Zealand’s electricity is generated from renewable sources? That’s things like hydro, geothermal and wind.

To support our future demand, Mercury has committed to investing more than $1billion* in new wind and geothermal generation developments*.

*As of June, 2025.

FIND OUT MORE

Illustration of a house and a hill with windmills.

CHANGE TAKES TIME

As a country, we’re making stronger shifts towards renewable generation targets, and to reduce the need for reliance on fossil-powered back-up.

But as we shift our broader energy system to more renewable generation, we’ll continue to rely on alternative fuels to ensure security of supply in the medium-term.

Like in winter, if our hydro levels are low, but demand during a cold snap is high. We’re committed to keeping the lights on and the heaters humming.

THE JOURNEY AHEAD

is bio gas a thing?

The gas industry is exploring renewable gas options for the future. As we transition to cleaner energy options as a country, we expect to see a continued upward trend on gas pricing.

mercury's commitment

We’re committed to playing our part in reducing emissions. Our Climate Action Plan represents the actions we’re taking toward a low-emissions, climate resilient future for Aotearoa.

journey to net-zero

Learn about New Zealand’s journey to net-zero:
Powering change - Changing the way we power Aotearoa 
New Zealand’s second emissions reduction plan 2026-2030 
EECA - The future of energy in New Zealand