Electricity operators in New Zealand

About electricity operator status

Electricity generators or distributors may need to apply for electricity operator status to perform certain activities in some areas.

These activities can include:

• the right to enter roads other than motorways to build and maintain fittings
• the right to apply to the district court for entry to level crossings, to build and maintain fittings.

Apply for electricity operator status

If you’re an electricity distributor or generator and you think you need electricity operator status to carry out your work, you need to fill out one of the application forms below:

• Electricity Operator Status Application Form for distributors [PDF, 53 KB]
• Electricity Operator Status Application Form for generators [PDF, 59 KB]

The Minister of Energy and Resources can give an electricity distributor or generator electricity operator status under section 4 and 4A of the Electricity Act 1992. The Minister must be satisfied that a declaration is necessary for the distributing or generating firm to carry out their business.

Post your application

Post your completed application form and any supporting information to:
Energy Markets Policy
Building, Resources and Markets Group
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
PO Box 1473
Wellington 6140

For all enquiries related to electricity email electricitymarkets@mbie.govt.nz

Electricity Operators

The following are Electricity Operators as at 15 April 2024 under the Electricity Act 1992. Beside each is listed the provisions of the Act for which the person is an Electricity Operator, and the method by which they have Electricity Operator status (a reference to the Gazette notice is included, if appropriate).

A D Harwood Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 9579, publication date 19 November 2009).

Alpine Energy Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Aurora Energy Limited (previously Dunedin City Council MED which was issued an electricity supply licence under section 20 of the Electricity Act 1968 on 12 March 1989) under Part (a) of the definition of an electricity operator in section 2 of the Electricity Act 1992.

Beachlands Networks Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2016-go4183, publication date 21 July 2016).

Buller Electricity Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Cappella Power Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2017-go579, publication date 16 February 2017).

Contact Energy Limited for all of the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992, including for the purpose of line function services, by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 7755, publication date 08 November 2007).

Counties Power Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Eastland Network Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Electra Limited (previously Horowhenua Energy Limited, which was given operator status under the Electricity Operators Order 2000), for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992.

Electric Boat Co NZ Ltd for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 (Gazette notice 2022-go5552, publication date 16 December 2022).

Electricity Ashburton Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Electricity Invercargill Limited (previously Invercargill City Council, which was issued an electricity supply licence under section 20 of the Electricity Act 1968 on 24 October 1986) under Part (a) of the definition of an electricity operator in section 2 of the Electricity Act 1992.

Electricity Southland Limited for the purposes of sections 24 to 30 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 9528, publication date 18 December 2008).

Energy Source Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 5719, publication date 04 September 2003).

Harmony Energy NZ Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992, by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2023-go1436, publication date 11 April 2023).

Halo Networks Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2024-go280, publication date 24 January 2024).

Horizon Energy Distribution Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Independent Transmission Services Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992, including for the purpose of line function services, by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 7538, publication date 09 October 2008).

Infrastructure Solutions New Zealand Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 (Gazette notice 2021-go3997, publication date 6 September 2021).

Kapuni Green Hydrogen Project LP for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 (Gazette notice 2021-go5463, publication date 8 December 2021).

King Country Energy Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Last Tango Limited – see OtagoNet.

LET Capital Number 3 Limited Partnership for the purposes of sections 24 and 31 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2024-go281, publication date 24 January 2024).

MainPower New Zealand Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Manawa Energy Limited (formerly Trustpower Limited, formerly Bay Energy Limited) for all the purposes of the Electricity Act, including for the purpose of line function services by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 5714, publication date 6 October 2016).​

Maungaturoto Solar Farm Project LP for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992, by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2024-go1700, publication date 15 April 2024).

Marlborough Lines Limited (previously Marlborough Electric Limited, which was given operator status under the Electricity Operators Order 2000), for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992.

Meridian Energy Limited for all of the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992, including for the purpose of line function services, by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 8088, publication date 22 November 2007).

Mighty River Power Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992, including for the purpose of line function services, by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 8031, publication date 01 October 2009).

Nelson Electricity Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Network Tasman Limited (previously Tasman Energy Limited, which was given operator status under the Electricity Operators Order 2000), for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992.

Network Waitaki Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Northpower Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

NZ Electricity Lines Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 4727, publication date 21 July 2005).

New Zealand Energy Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration of the Minister (Gazette notice 638, publication date 9 February 2012).

Orion New Zealand Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

OtagoNet (Last Tango Limited and Pylon Limited, trading as OtagoNet) for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2014-go7487, publication date 11 December 2014, supersedes Gazette notice 2003-go5719).

Otago Electricity Limited for the purposes of sections 24 to 30 of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Otago Power Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Oyster Networks Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 4523, publication date 17 September 2015).

Pioneer Energy Limited for the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992, including for the purposes of line function services by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2016-go4183, publication date 21 July 2016).

Pylon Limited – see OtagoNet.

Powerco Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Powerco Transmission Services Limited for all of the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 4553, publication date 26 June 2008).

Rānui Generation Limited for all of the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2023-go4654, publication date 2 October 2023).

ScanPower Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Southern Generation Partnership Limited for the purposes of section 24 and section 31 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2020-go105, publication date 12 December 2019).

Southpark Utilities Limited for the purposes of sections 24 and 31 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 8633, publication date 06 December 2001).

Steve and Maria Zelko Partnership for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 6964, publication date 2 September 2010).

Talla Burn Generation Limited for the purposes of section 24 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 6292, publication date 28 August 2008).

Tararua Wind Power Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act, including for the purpose of line function services by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2782, publication date 17 June 2019).

The Lines Company Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Tilt Renewables Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act, including for the purpose of line function services by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 5714, publication date 6 October 2016).

The Power Company Limited (which was issued an electricity supply licence under section 20 of the Electricity Act 1968 on 1 July 1992) under Part (a) of the definition of an electricity operator in section 2 of the Electricity Act 1992.

Top Energy Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Transpower New Zealand Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Unison Networks Limited (previously Hawke’s Bay Network Limited, which was given operator status under the Electricity Operators Order 2000), for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992.

United Networks Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Vector Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

Vector Wellington Electricity Network Limited for the purposes of sections 24 and 31 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 4554, publication date 26 June 2008). [This notice has been superseded by Gazette notice 9529 for Wellington Electricity Lines Limited].

Waverley Wind Farm Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act, including for the purpose of line function services by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 2755, publication date 14 June 2019).

Waipa Networks Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.

WEL Networks Limited (previously WEL Energy Group Limited, which was given operator status under the Electricity Operators Order 2000), for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992.

Wellington Electricity Lines Limited for the purposes of sections 24 to 31 of the Electricity Act 1992 by declaration by the Minister (Gazette notice 9529, publication date 18 December 2008, supersedes Gazette notice 4554).

Westpower Limited for all the purposes of the Electricity Act 1992 under the Electricity Operators Order 2000.