Consultation on options to improve the efficiency of electricity distribution businesses

About the consultation

Electricity distribution businesses have a critical role in delivering electricity from the national grid to homes and businesses across New Zealand.

As electricity demand is expected to increase significantly by 2050, distribution networks will need to support increased electrification, enable new technologies, encourage innovation, and continue to provide reliable, resilient, and affordable services to consumers.

We are consulting on measures to lift electricity distribution businesses performance by:

• encouraging collaboration between electricity distribution businesses where this drives efficiencies and better prices for consumers,
• introducing a more tailored and targeted approach to economic regulation for electricity distribution businesses, and
• strengthening governance arrangements of the consumer-owned electricity distribution businesses.

The scale of investment required for New Zealand's energy transition raises questions about whether existing arrangements will continue to deliver the outcomes consumers need in the future.

Your feedback will help inform the Government's decisions on potential reforms to the regulatory framework for electricity distribution businesses. We welcome feedback on any, or all, of our consultation questions.

Who we want to hear from

We invite submissions from anyone with an interest in New Zealand’s electricity distribution networks, including electricity distribution businesses, generators, retailers, and other registered market participants, owners of electricity distribution businesses, industry bodies, investors and developers in electricity generation, storage, and demand response, or other interested parties.

Read the discussion document

Background material related to electricity distribution businesses