The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko has publicly endorsed the Electrification Manifesto released today by Rewiring Aotearoa, a document that outlines 59 recommended actions to accelerate New Zealand’s shift to cleaner, cheaper electric alternatives.
The Authority has shown its support behind the plan, describing it as aligned with its existing efforts to reform and future-proof the country’s electricity system.
Sector Vision Aligned with Consumer and Cost Outcomes
Authority Chief Executive Sarah Gillies described the Authority’s vision for the sector, emphasising consumer benefit, electrification, and cost efficiency. “We are working to deliver an electricity system that empowers consumers, supports electrification, and is reliable, secure and delivered at the lowest cost,” said Gillies.
She added, “We have work underway to boost security of supply, encourage more flexibility in the system, enable consumers to have greater control over their electricity use and costs, and create a more efficient electricity system.”
Support for Distributed Energy Models
A central theme of the manifesto is the decentralisation of electricity supply—bringing generation closer to where it is used. The Authority expressed strong support for this approach. “We agree with Rewiring Aotearoa that New Zealand’s centralised electricity system can be complemented by more localised energy resources,” Gillies said.
She highlighted the benefits of local energy generation, including enhanced resilience to climate change, improved affordability, community empowerment, and progress toward decarbonisation.
“Our Decentralisation green paper aims to start a discussion about how we can move towards this future in a way that ensures people and communities benefit,” she added.
Regulatory Framework Under Active Development
The Authority is beginning to deliver on elements of the system Rewiring Aotearoa envisions, with new regulations already in development. One significant proposal involves changing solar electricity rules to offer fairer payment for energy returned to the grid during peak times—changes that may come into effect next year.
“For example, a household could be with the retailer that offers the best buy-back for solar they supply to the network, and another retailer for their electricity use,” the Authority explained.
Consumer-Centric Reforms to Improve Market Functioning
Future reforms could also introduce peer-to-peer trading, allow consumers to select separate electricity providers for appliances like electric vehicle chargers, and enhance retail switching options.
The Authority is also working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to develop consumer data rights that would simplify switching and comparison shopping.
Additional proposals include streamlining connection processes for businesses and EV infrastructure and introducing time-of-use pricing plans to help consumers lower their power bills. Flexibility improvements across multiple areas of the system are also in development to reduce the need for costly network upgrades.
Leadership Role in Sector Transition
The Electricity Authority’s mandate as an independent Crown Entity is to promote competition, reliability, and efficiency in the electricity market for the long-term benefit of consumers. A secondary objective is to protect domestic and small business consumers.
“The electricity system is in a period of substantial change,” said Gillies. “The Authority is taking action, alongside others, to enable this change and ensure the system is fit-for-the-future and works for New Zealanders.”