Te Aponga Uira

Te Aponga Uira O Tumu-Te-Varovaro (TAU) is a Cook Islands electricity generator, distributor and retailer which provides electricity to the island of Rarotonga. It is responsible for 90% of the Cook Islands' electricity generation. [2] It is a state-owned enterprise, wholly owned by the Cook Islands Government through the Cook Islands Investment Corporation.

Te Aponga Uira was established by the Te Aponga Uira O Tumu-Te-Varovaro Act 1991.[3] Structured as a perpetual body corporate, it has the statutory objectives of "provid[ing] energy to all consumers in a reliable and economical manner" while operating in "an efficient and profitable manner having due regard to the interests of the community".[4] Upon its creation it took over the assets and liabilities of the Cook Islands' Department of Electric Power Supply.[5] Originally responsible to the Minister of Energy and with statutory advice functions, control was transferred in 1999 to the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, and a social responsibility requirement was imposed.[6] It must also conform to government policy directives, such as the Cook Islands Renewable Electricity Chart.[2]

The company operates two power stations on Rarotonga:

The company had a net metering policy in place since November 2009 to encourage the installation of distributed solar generation,[8] but reversed its policy in 2015 over concerns about grid stability.[9]

During the COVID-19 pandemic the company provided free electricity to its domestic users and discounted electricity to businesses.[10]