Consumers facing higher electricity charges

Aucklanders face increased electricity bills after a three-way hit on power companies who are passing those extra costs to customers.

Vector this week announced a 2.3 per cent increase on its line charges, forcing power retailers to punt the cost to their customers.

An increase in energy costs and a rise in the Electricity Commission levy will also affect energy bills.

Contact Energy announced there will be an increase of about 5 per cent for its residential customers in Auckland, which incorporates a power and a lines increase.

Spokesman Jonathan Hill said the cost needed to be bumped because of other pressures faced by his company.

Mercury Energy will increase energy prices by about 3 per cent for its more than 300,000 residential customers across the country.

Added costs of the levy and new lines charge mean that power bills will be up by $4.30 to $5 for residents in Auckland, depending on where you live.

Genesis Energy spokesman Richard Gordon said the company was not going to react immediately.

TrustPower spokesman Graeme Purches said its 230,000 residential customers would see an increase of "significantly less" than 5 per cent.