We're being told rising power prices can't be entirely blamed on Tiwai Aluminium smelter

The Electricity Authority says each household is paying an average 200 dollars a year more, because of a Meridian and Contact deal to provide Tiwai cheap electricity.

Business NZ energy council executive director, Tina Schirr , says other factors are in play, too.

She says it's been mainly caused by low water, as well as a lack of gas and wind power.