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Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Te Puke, Whakatāne and Rotorua

Solar panels in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty

The Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand's better solar regions, at 1,450 to 1,550 kWh a year per kW installed (Solar Scout). A 6.6kW system typically costs $14,000 to $15,000 installed and makes about 9,600 to 10,200 kWh a year. Tauranga is on Powerco's network, which charges no application fee for systems of 10kW or less.

Updated 15 September 2026

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Solar in Bay of Plenty: the local details

  • Powerco covers Tauranga and the western Bay of Plenty, with a free application for systems of 10kW or less and a 10kW export limit (MySolarQuotes).
  • The eastern Bay of Plenty is on Horizon Networks, and Rotorua is on Unison. The survey confirms your network and its rules.
  • Solar Scout puts the region's output at 1,450 to 1,550 kWh per kW a year, second only to Nelson and Marlborough in its table.
Main lines company
Powerco
Other networks
Horizon Networks (eastern Bay of Plenty), Unison (Rotorua and Taupō)
Application fee
Free for systems 10kW or less (Powerco)
Output per kW a year
1,450 – 1,550 kWh

Packages in Bay of Plenty

Price and yearly output
PackageTypical NZ priceOutput a year
5kW package$11,000 – $13,0007,250 – 7,750 kWh
6.6kW package$14,000 – $15,0009,570 – 10,230 kWh
10kW package$15,000 – $18,00014,500 – 15,500 kWh

See what solar costs in NZ and how it works.

Common questions in Bay of Plenty

Consent rules are national: since 23 October 2025, most roof arrays under 40 m² need no building consent. See the consent guide.

How much do solar panels cost in Tauranga?

About $11,000 to $13,000 for 5kW, $14,000 to $15,000 for 6.6kW and $15,000 to $18,000 for 10kW installed (Solar Scout).

Does Powerco charge to connect solar?

No. Powerco's application for systems of 10kW or less is free, with a 10kW export limit (MySolarQuotes).

How much does solar generate in the Bay of Plenty?

1,450 to 1,550 kWh per kW per year, so about 9,600 to 10,200 kWh from a 6.6kW system (Solar Scout).

Sources

  1. Solar Scout, Solar panel costs NZ (checked Sept 2026)
  2. Solar Scout, How many solar panels do I need (updated 1 Apr 2026) (checked 1 Apr 2026)
  3. MySolarQuotes, Lines companies' solar application fees (updated Aug 2026) (checked Aug 2026)
  4. EWRB, Solar panel consent exemption changes (checked Sept 2026)

Other regions

All regions

Auckland

Waitlist

Auckland city, North Shore, West Auckland, East Auckland and Franklin

Lines company
Vector
Output per kW
1,350–1,450 kWh

Waikato

Waitlist

Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Huntly and the wider Waikato

Lines company
WEL Networks
Output per kW
Not published

Wellington

Waitlist

Wellington city, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua

Lines company
Wellington Electricity
Output per kW
1,250–1,400 kWh

Canterbury

Waitlist

Christchurch, Rolleston, Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Ashburton

Lines company
Orion
Output per kW
1,300–1,450 kWh

Otago

Waitlist

Dunedin, Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell and Alexandra

Lines company
Aurora Energy
Output per kW
Not published
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