Players in the power game

RWE Powernet - German network company RWE's information about its powerline internet service. Click FAQ to see how those lucky Germans can plug the computer into the wall and get high-speed internet access through the powerlines.

Powerline World - For enthusiasts and experts to talk about the whole business of powerline communications.

Communications Technology - A good article from the Communications Technology website, explaining some of the tentative steps that companies have taken into the new world of powerline communications.

NZ Electricity - Home of all electricity information for New Zealand. Explains who owns what, the rules and what the Government might be planning. Has links to every company in the industry.

COMIT Free To Air - For the hardcore electricity fan, the latest updates on the price of power at different points nationwide. Visitors can also check how low those South Island hydro lakes are.

Consumer PowerSwitch - Compare the prices of all the power companies. When the market first opened up, allowing consumers to switch between power retailers, there was a big difference in prices and service. But they are all offering much the same thing now.

United Networks - New Zealand's largest lines company, which is closely watching developments in the world of powerlines communications. Don't be surprised if it starts offering such a service to some customers within a few years.

Energize - Best site for finding links to all those in the power industry - generators, retailers and others. Also includes information on energy sources such as wind and wave technology.

Windpower Monthly - Home site of Windpower Monthly, containing information about the growing trend for generating electricity from wind turbines. The homepage statement pretty much sums up this international site: "Often provocative, sometimes arrogant, occasionally irreverent, always informed, Windpower Monthly blows fresh air into the international energy debate." Blows fresh air - get it?

Windflow - Check out this New Zealand company that is hoping to build huge wind turbines using local technology. Expect to see its twin-blade turbines appearing on a hill near you soon.

Solar Action - This is the home of those into solar power.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority - Save electricity all year round - don't wait until the South Island lakes are dry and a politician has to appear on television. This is the site of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, which advises companies and anyone on ways to save energy - though some good advice might be simply to turn off your PC and read a book outside in the sun.

Energy Online - One of the new-style electricity retailers that set up after Government reforms allowed customers to switch between companies. Sign up online, pay your bill online, get the electricity as usual, they say.

energy auctions - Not for the home power user who just needs the electricity to fire up the toaster and TV, but interesting. Companies use this site to buy blocks of electricity at a certain price for different times of the day. It runs a reverse auction system, where rival generators compete in an auction to supply electricity to the company that wants to buy it.

M-co - Home site of the company that runs the wholesale electricity market. It was these guys who put together all the graphs you saw last year showing how much power each part of the country was saving and how low the hydro lakes were.

Trustpower - One of the bigger electricity retailers, notable for its trial and later introduction of handheld Eftpos devices to be used in the home for paying the power bill. Like many of its rivals, it enables customers to check power bills online. More companies are now offering e-billing, in which the bill is sent to your PC inbox, not the letterbox.