The GasBridge Model
Put your business at the centre of your gas supply
The traditional gas supply model was built around the retailer.
The GasBridge Model is different. It puts your business at the centre of the supply chain, giving you greater control over how you buy and manage gas.
If your business relies on gas, there may be more options available than you realise.
Why businesses are rethinking how they buy gas
Many New Zealand commercial or industrial businesses are finding it harder, and more expensive, to secure reliable gas supply.
The reason isn't simply declining gas production.
It's that the traditional model places the gas retailer at the centre of a shrinking supply chain. In today's market, that approach is becoming increasingly difficult for businesses to realise value.
How the traditional commercial gas supply model works
Most commercial gas contracts follow the same structure.
You agree to a fixed price and purchase the volume of gas your business needs over the life of the contract.
Behind the scenes, your retailer takes responsibility for:
Buying the gas
Forecasting your usage
Balancing supply and demand
Managing compliance
For many years, this worked well. But today's market is different.
Supply is tighter, contract offers are becoming harder to secure, and businesses are carrying greater risk than ever before.
Why fixed-price commercial gas contracts are becoming more expensive
A fixed-price contract may provide certainty, but that certainty comes at a cost.
Gas retailers carry the risk of volatile wholesale prices and uncertain supply. To protect themselves, they build that risk into the price they offer customers.
As market conditions have changed, those risk premiums have grown significantly.
Businesses are paying more, not necessarily because the gas itself costs more, but because retailers must price in the uncertainty of supplying it.
At the same time, gas retailers are becoming increasingly selective about the contracts they're willing to offer.
Before offering a contract, they need confidence they can:
Begin supply when your existing contract ends.
Secure enough gas for the full contract term.
Meet your peak demand, particularly through winter.
If they can't, they may either decline to offer a contract or increase the price to reflect the additional risk.
The GasBridge Model - A different approach to managing gas supply
The GasBridge Model was developed in response to these challenges.
Businesses told us they wanted more than a contract every few years. They wanted options.
Options to buy gas from more than one supplier.
Options to access gas supply outside a traditional contract renewal.
Options to respond to changing gas market conditions.
Options to manage the transition to alternative energy on their own timeline.
Options to bridge the supply gap when changing gas suppliers.
We think the best way to achieve that is by putting your business at the centre of the supply chain.
How the model works
Instead of relying on a single retailer, the GasBridge Model opens up more of the gas market to your business.
We give you options
We approach suppliers who don't traditionally serve this part of the market and provide access to upstream suppliers through the wholesale gas market. This creates more flexibility around when and how you secure supply.
We help bridge the gap
If your preferred supplier can't provide gas for a period, we can help bridge the gap. You're no longer limited to finding a supplier whose start date lines up exactly with the end of your existing contract. That can give you more time to negotiate your next gas supply agreement, rather than accepting an offer simply because the timing works.
We open up the market
We connect you directly to the wholesale gas market, creating greater flexibility in how gas is sourced and managed.
We simplify the process
We help you navigate a tight and unpredictable market while managing the operational complexity behind the scenes.
We put you in control
You'll hold contracts directly with pipeline owners and service providers, creating greater transparency and more control over your gas supply strategy.
How the GasBridge Model creates value
The GasBridge Model creates value by giving participating businesses access to opportunities that have traditionally remained within the retail supply chain.
Case Study
The GasBridge concept was first tested with a covered crop grower consuming around 120 terajoules per year across four sites. They had been to market for contract renewal and received a price that threatened the viability of their entire operation.
Working with a second covered crop grower, they established a new retail entity and contracted EnergyBridge to set up and manage the systems they needed.
The first two years became an extended pilot project. What they proved changed everything: by remaining continuously engaged with the market, rather than returning every few years, these businesses were able to average across peaks and troughs, eliminating the risk of “existential musical chairs”.
They accessed demand response opportunities previously unavailable to businesses of their size. And they negotiated directly with infrastructure companies to obtain commercial terms that the standard model had never offered them.
Proven in New Zealand's commercial gas market
The GasBridge Model isn't simply an idea. It's already operating successfully within New Zealand's gas market.
When the concept launched in 2022, EnergyBridge managed one business serving five sites, representing less than 0.5% of New Zealand's gas demand.
By mid-2026, the model had grown to seven full-service entities, with EnergyBridge also contributing to integrated solutions for a further three businesses.
Together, these businesses directly serve 18 sites and indirectly support thousands more across New Zealand.
In 2025, the Gas Industry Company independently audited EnergyBridge's first two retailers for compliance with market rules. Both audits confirmed compliance with all relevant obligations, with the reports publicly available through the Gas Industry Company.
The GasBridge Model isn't a niche workaround. It's a proven alternative that's helping New Zealand businesses navigate a changing gas market.
Is this right for your business?
If your business depends on gas and you're looking for greater control, more flexibility, or a different approach to securing long-term supply, we'd love to show you what's possible.
An initial conversation will help us understand your current arrangements, answer your questions, and explore whether the GasBridge Model is the right fit for your business.