Contact Energy reports lift in November sales and renewable projects progress

Contact Energy reports higher energy sales and progress on renewables, with customer numbers and storage at strong levels.

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Key points

  • Contact Energy reported an increase in mass market electricity and gas sales to 319 GWh and wholesale contracted electricity sales to 845 GWh in November 2025, with improved average sales prices and netbacks.
  • The company is advancing over $1 billion in renewable projects, including battery, solar, and geothermal developments, to enhance its low-carbon energy offerings and meet growing demand.
  • Despite a slight share price decline of 1% over the past year, Contact Energy remains focused on execution of projects and managing resources, with ESG initiatives driving future strategic opportunities.

The Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN) share price is in focus today after the company reported a lift in both mass market electricity and gas sales to 319 GWh in November 2025, up from 290 GWh a year ago. Wholesale contracted electricity sales also rose to 845 GWh from 733 GWh, showing growth across both its Customer and Wholesale businesses.

What did Contact Energy report?

  • Mass market electricity and gas sales reached 319 GWh (up from 290 GWh in November 2024)
  • Wholesale contracted electricity sales jumped to 845 GWh (733 GWh in November 2024)
  • Average electricity sales price was $353.82/MWh (previously $307.43/MWh)
  • Unit generation cost rose to $39.62/MWh (from $34.43/MWh a year earlier)
  • Customer netback improved to $138.75/MWh (up from $134.39/MWh)
  • Total customer connections grew to 667,000 (from 635,000)

What else do investors need to know?

Contact Energy has several renewable energy projects underway, including the Glenbrook-Ohurua battery project (expected online Q1 2026), Kowhai Park Solar (expected Q2 2026), and Te Mihi Stage 2 geothermal project (expected Q3 2027). These investments total over $1 billion and reflect the company's focus on low-carbon energy solutions and future growth.

Hydro storage levels remained strong, with South Island and North Island controlled storage well above long-term averages as of December 2025. Nationwide electricity demand was up 4.1% versus November 2024, signalling a generally positive market environment for the company.

What's next for Contact Energy?

Contact Energy is pressing ahead with its major development projects, which are expected to bolster renewable output and further diversify its generation mix. The company continues to manage gas contracts and energy storage closely, positioning itself to meet rising demand and future-proof its operations.

ESG remains a priority, with ongoing investment in emissions reduction, water management, biodiversity, and community initiatives. Investors should watch for further project updates and operational data in the coming quarters.

Contact Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Contact Energy shares have declined 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

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