Electricity Industry Participation Code (Export Limits) Amendment 2026

This amendment to the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 (Code) is made under section 38 of the Electricity Industry Act 2010 (Act) by the Electricity Authority having complied with section 39 of that Act.

Contents

1. Title 2

2. Commencement 2

3. Code amended 2

   Part 1

   Amendments to Part 1 of Electricity Industry Participation Code

4. Clause 1.1 amended (Interpretation) 2

   Part 2

   Amendments to Part 6 of Electricity Industry Participation Code

   6

   
   

   7

   New clause 6.3A inserted (Limits on maximum export power and installed generation)

   New clause 6.3B inserted (Requirements for inverters)

   3

   4

5. Clause 6.3 amended (Distributors must make information publicly available) 3

1. Clause 6.4 amended (Process for obtaining approval) 4

   Schedule 6.1

   1. New clause 1E of Schedule 6.1 inserted

   2. New clause 1F of Scheule 6.1 inserted

   5

   6

2. Clause 1D of Schedule 6.1 amended 5

1. Clause 2 of Schedule 6.1 amended 7

2. Clause 9B of Schedule 6.1 amended 7

   Part 3

   Amendment to the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Application for Distributed Generation) 2021

3. Clause 8 revoked 7

   Part 4

   Amendments to the Electricity Industry Participation Code (Network Connections) Amendment 2026

4. Clause 13 amended 7

5. Clause 26 amended 8

Amendment

1. Title

   This is the Electricity Industry Participation Code (Export Limits) Amendment 2026.

   
   

2. Commencement

   This amendment comes into force on 11 May 2026.

   
   

3. Code amended

   1. Parts 1 and 2 of this amendment amend the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 (the Code).

   2. Part 3 of this amendment amends the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Application for Distributed Generation) 2021.

   3. Part 4 of this amendment amends the Electricity Industry Participation Code (Network Connections) Amendment 2026.

   Part 1

   Amendments to Part 1 of Electricity Industry Participation Code

4. Clause 1.1 amended (Interpretation)

   In clause 1.1(1), insert in their appropriate alphabetical order:

   bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors means a methodology that all distributors have jointly adopted for the purposes of Part 6 that, if made, distributors must use to perform network studies that determine maximum export power, inverter settings, or other conditions that will apply to an ICP that is the subject of an application to connect distributed generation

   
   

   dynamic export limit means an export limit for distributed generation under Part 6 that allows at least the maximum export power threshold when there is no export congestion and remotely adjusts the export limit of the smart inverter in real-time to continuously respond to network export congestion

   
   

   export limits assessment methodology for distributors means a methodology that all

   distributors have jointly adopted for the purposes of Part 6 that, if made, distributors

Part 2

Amendments to Part 6 of Electricity Industry Participation Code

1. Clause 6.3 amended (Distributors must make information publicly available)

   Replace clause 6.3(2)(dc) with:

   (dc) the maximum export power threshold and the export limits assessment methodology for distributors and the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors used to determine that threshold, for locations at which the distributor has set a maximum export power threshold; and

1. New clause 6.3A inserted (Limits on maximum export power and installed generation)

   6.3A Limits on maximum export power and installed generation

   1. A distributor must not set a limit on the nameplate capacity of distributed generation that may be installed at an ICP for applications made under Part 1 or Part 1A.

   2. A distributor may set a limit on the maximum export power that may be injected into the network from an ICP (the ‘maximum export power threshold’) for applications made under Part 1A, provided the maximum export power threshold is not set lower than 10kW except in accordance with subclause (3).

   3. A distributor may set a limit on the maximum export power threshold that applies to an ICP or group of ICPs of lower than 10kW provided the distributor has undertaken a network study that—

      1. shows a lower maximum export power threshold is necessary to maintain voltage within the allowable tolerances or network safety, including, but not limited to, any issues reasonably likely to affect power quality or reliability, such as thermal constraints, in the section of the network that carries electricity from the ICP or group of ICPs to the network; and

      2. only takes into account distributed generation that is connected to, and applications that are being assessed to connect distributed generation to, the section of network that carries electricity from the ICP or group of ICPs to the network; and

After clause 6.3 insert:

1. New clause 6.3B inserted (Requirements for inverters)

   Before clause 6.4, insert:

   6.3B Requirements for inverters

   1. From 11 September 2026 subject to subclause (2), a distributor must require a distributed generator that injects electricity at low voltage to use an inverter that is compliant with, and applies, the “Australia A” inverter settings specified in, AS/NZS477.2:2020 incorporating Amendments No. 1 and 2.

   2. A distributor may specify different inverter settings to those required by subclause (1) in its connection and operating standards if—

      1. the distributor has undertaken a network study that shows different settings are necessary to maintain voltage within the allowable tolerances and/or network safety, including any issues reasonably likely to affect power quality or reliability, such as thermal constraints, in the section of network for or an ICP or group of ICPs; and

      2. any alternative inverter settings are consistent with the “allowed range” in Tables 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, and 4.3 of AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 incorporating Amendments No. 1

         and 2.

   3. From 11 November 2026 any network study undertaken under subclause (2) must use the export limits assessment methodology for distributors.

   4. The distributor must—

      1. publish any network study undertaken under subclause (2); and

      2. repeat the network study where there has been a change on the network likely to alter the outcome of network study.

1. Clause 6.4 amended (Process for obtaining approval)

   In clause 6.4(1)(d), insert “, maximum export power,” after “nameplate capacity,”.

   
   

   Schedule 6.1

   
   

2. Clause 1D of Schedule 6.1 amended

   1. In clause 1D(1) of Schedule 6.1—

      1. in paragraph (a), replace “2016” with “2024”; and

      2. in paragraph(b)(i), insert “incorporating Amendments No. 1 and 2” after “AS/NZS 4777.2:2020”; and

      3. after paragraph (b), insert:

         (c) will inject electricity less than or equal to the maximum export power threshold set by the distributor in clause 6.3A(2).

1. In clause 1D(2) of Schedule 6.1—

   1. in the chapeau, replace “Until 1 September 2026, a” with “A”; and

   2. in paragraph (c), replace “meet the distributor’s connection and operation standards” with “comply with clause 6.3B(1) or meet the distributor’s inverter settings specified in accordance with clause 6.3B(2)”; and

   3. in paragraph (d), delete “in its connection and operation standards”.

1. New clause 1E of Schedule 6.1 inserted

   After clause 1D of Schedule 6.1, insert:

   1E Applications that do not comply with distributor thresholds or inverter settings

   (1) Despite clause 6.3A or 6.3B, a distributed generator may submit an application to connect distributed generation that has greater capacity than the distributor’s maximum export power threshold or has different inverter settings than those specified in accordance with clause 6.3B(2), and the distributor must assess that application in good faith, under—

   1. Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 6.1 for distributed generation greater than the

      maximum export power threshold; or

   2. Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 6.1 for distributed generation using different inverter settings.

      1. From 11 November 2026, any network study undertaken for a Part 2 application as part of the assessment under subclause (1)—

         1. must use the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors; and

         2. must, if it contains an analysis which deviates from the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors, include the reasons for the deviation; and

         3. must be provided to the distributed generator before determining the application; and

         4. must be published by the distributor unless the distributed generator does not give consent to publish.

      2. Unless the distributed generator agrees otherwise, where practicable, the distributor

         must provide the distributed generator with the following:

         1. alternative export limits:

      1. the conditions the distributed generator must meet in order for the distributor

         to approve those alternative export limits:

      2. the associated costs if the distributed generator chooses an alternative export limit.

      (4) If an application is approved, the distributor will adjust the maximum export power threshold for that ICP to the new maximum export power threshold determined during the application process.

1. New clause 1F of Schedule 6.1 inserted

   Before clause 2 of Schedule 6.1, insert:

   1F Distributed generator may dispute results of network study in certain circumstances

   1. A distributed generator may dispute any limit set by a distributor on maximum export power or inverter settings that operate to limit maximum export power, or associated conditions set by the distributor, arising from a network study using the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors by providing written notice of the dispute to the distributor.

   2. A distributed generator may not dispute the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors itself.

   3. A dispute may only be raised up to 30 days after the distributor has notified the distributed generator of the results or the limit on maximum export power or inverter settings that operate to limit maximum export power set by a distributor or associated conditions set by the distributor.

   4. If a distributed generator notifies the distributor of a dispute under subclause (1), the

      distributor and the distributed generator (“the parties”)—

      1. must attempt to resolve the dispute in good faith and without unreasonable delay; and

      2. may escalate the dispute to their chief executive officer, or a person holding the equivalent position, if the dispute cannot be resolved in good faith and without unreasonable delay; and

      3. the chief executive officer, or person holding the equivalent position, may—

         1. refer the dispute to mediation with costs to lie where they fall; and

         2. if the parties cannot agree to a mediator within 5 business days of referring the dispute to mediation, the parties must submit a request to AMINZ (or its replacement organisation) to select a mediator and determine the mediator’s fee; and

      4. if the dispute cannot be resolved the distributor and the distributed generator

         must—

         1. refer the dispute to arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996; and

         2. if the parties cannot agree to an arbitrator within 5 business days of referring the dispute to arbitration, the parties must submit a request to AMINZ (or its replacement organisation) to select an arbitrator and determine the arbitrator’s fee.

   5. If the parties refer the dispute to arbitration, either party may commission an independent engineering review of the issues being disputed, in which case—

   1. the review must be conducted by a suitable engineering consultant nominated by the Electricity Engineers Association (or its replacement organisation); and

   2. the party commissioning the review must initially pay the cost of the review, with the final allocation of the costs between the parties determined by the arbitrator.

1. Clause 2 of Schedule 6.1 amended

   1. In clause 2(3)(aa)(iv) of Schedule 6.1, insert “, maximum export power,” after “nameplate capacity”.

   2. In clause 2(3)(b) of Schedule 6.1, insert “or maximum export power,” after “nameplate capacity”.

   3. In clause 2(3)(ba) of Schedule 6.1, in the chapeau, insert “, maximum export power,” after “nameplate capacity”.

   4. In clause 2(3)(ba)(i) of Schedule 6.1, insert “and maximum export power” after “nameplate capacity”.

   
   

2. Clause 9B of Schedule 6.1 amended

   1. In clause 9B(1)(d) of Schedule 6.1, insert “, maximum export power,” after “nameplate capacity”.

   2. In clause 9B(2)(f) of Schedule 6.1, insert “incorporating Amendments No.1 and 2” after “AS/NZS 4777.2:2020”.

   3. In clause 9B(2A) of Schedule 6.1—

      1. in the chapeau, replace “Until 1 September 2026, an” with “An”; and

         (a) confirmation the inverter conforms with the inverter settings specified in clause

         6.3B(1) or 6.3B(2); and

1. replace paragraph (a) with:

2. in paragraph (b), delete “in its connection and operation standards”.

Part 3

Amendment to the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Application for Distributed Generation) 2021

1. Clause 8 revoked

   Revoke clause 8.

   
   

   Part 4

   Amendments to the Electricity Industry Participation Code (Network

   Connections) Amendment 2026

   
   

2. Clause 13 amended

   (dc) the maximum export power threshold and the export limits assessment methodology for distributors and the bespoke export limits assessment

Replace the amendments to clause 6.3(2)(dc) of the Code in clause 13 by replacing that subparagraph with:

1. Clause 26 amended

1. Replace the amendments to clause 4 of Schedule 6.1 of the Code in clause 26 by replacing clause 4 with:

   4A Applications that do not comply with distributor thresholds or inverter settings

   (1) Despite clause 6.3A or 6.3B, a distributed generator may submit an application to connect distributed generation that has greater capacity than the distributor’s maximum export power threshold or has different inverter settings than those specified in accordance with clause 6.3B(2), and the distributor must assess that application in good faith, under—

   1. Process 1 of Schedule 6.1 for distributed generation greater than the maximum export power threshold; or

   2. Process 1 or Process 2 of Schedule 6.1 for distributed generation using different inverter settings.

   (2) From 11 November 2026, any network study undertaken for a Process 2 application as part of the assessment under subclause (1)—

1. Amend clause 26 by inserting a new clause 4A to be inserted in the Code after clause 4 of Schedule 6.1 as follows:

   
   

   1. must use the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors; and

   2. must, if it contains any analysis which deviates from the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors, include the reasons for the deviation; and

   3. must be provided to the distributed generator before determining the application; and

   4. must be published by the distributor unless the distributed generator does not give consent to publish.

   1. Unless the distributed generator agrees otherwise, where practicable, the distributor

      must provide the distributed generator with the following:

      1. alternative export limits:

      2. the conditions the distributed generator must meet in order for the distributor

         to approve those alternative export limits:

      3. the associated costs if the distributed generator chooses an alternative export limit.

   2. If an application is approved, the distributor will adjust the maximum export power threshold for that ICP to the new maximum export power threshold determined during the application process.

1. Amend clause 26 by inserting a new clause 4B in the Code before the cross heading “Confidentiality” in Schedule 6.1 as follows:

4B Distributed generator may dispute results of network study in certain circumstances

1. A distributed generator may dispute any limit set by a distributor on maximum export power or inverter settings that operate to limit maximum export power, or associated conditions set by the distributor, arising from a network study using the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors by providing written notice of the dispute to the distributor.

2. A distributed generator may not dispute the bespoke export limits assessment methodology for distributors itself.

3. A dispute may only be raised up to 30 days after the distributor has notified the distributed generator of the results or the limit on maximum export power or inverter settings that operate to limit maximum export power set by a distributor or associated conditions set by the distributor.

4. If a distributed generator notifies the distributor of a dispute under subclause (1), the

   distributor and the distributed generator (“the parties”)—

   1. must attempt to resolve the dispute in good faith and without unreasonable delay; and

   2. may escalate the dispute to their chief executive officer, or a person holding the equivalent position, if the dispute cannot be resolved in good faith and without unreasonable delay; and

   3. the chief executive officer, or person holding the equivalent position, may—

      1. refer the dispute to mediation with costs to lie where they fall; and

      2. if the parties cannot agree to a mediator within 5 business days of referring the dispute to mediation, the parties must submit a request to AMINZ (or its

1. Amend clause 26 by making the following amendments to new clause 2(2) of Schedule 6.1, Appendix 1, Process 1 of the Code:

   1. in paragraph (b)(iv), insert “nameplate capacity,” before “maximum export power”; and

   2. in paragraph (c), insert “nameplate capacity or” before “maximum export power”; and

   3. in the chapeau of paragraph (d), insert “nameplate capacity,” before “maximum export power”; and

   4. in paragraph (d)(i), insert “nameplate capacity or” before “maximum export power”; and

   5. in paragraph (d)(ii), insert “nameplate capacity or” before “maximum export power”.

2. Amend clause 26 by making the following amendments to new clause 2 of Schedule 6.1, Appendix 1A, Process 1A of the Code:

   1. in clause 2(1)(d), insert “nameplate capacity,” before “maximum export power”; and

   2. in clause 2(2)(f), insert “incorporating Amendments No.1 and 2” after “AS/NZS 4777.2:2020”; and

   3. in clause 2, replace subclause (3) with:

Made at Wellington on 9 April 2026

Erik Westergaard Acting Chair Electricity Authority

Certified in order for signature:

Amy Williams Nick Crang

Senior Legal Counsel Consultant

Electricity Authority Duncan Cotterill

9 April 2026 8 April 2026

Explanatory Note

This note is not part of the amendment, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This amendment to the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 comes into force on 11 May 2026, except for clauses 15 to 20, which come into force on 1 December 2026, immediately after the Electricity Industry Participation Code (Network Connections) Amendment 2026 comes into force.

The amendment amends Parts 1 and 6 of the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 (“Code”) to maximise the benefits from distributed generation by:

1. introducing a default static export limit of 10kW for applications under the Part 1A process in the Code for straightforward, small-scale DG connections up to 10kW, or offer a dynamic or flexible export limit (with a minimum 10kW limit when the export is not being controlled during congested periods), or apply lower static limits where justified, after a standardised network assessment;

2. introducing:

   1. a standardised Export Limits Assessment Methodology for small scale DG where distributors propose limits below 10kW for individual installation control points (ICPs) or small groups of ICPs connected to the same section of

      low voltage line, or to assess alternative dynamic or flexible limits as noted above; and

   2. a Bespoke Export Limits Assessment Methodology for larger scale DG greater than 10kW, under the Part 2 DG Code application process;

3. updating inverter standards and settings to require:

   1. default adoption of ‘Australia A’ voltage response, frequency and protection settings in the inverter performance standard AS/NZS 4777.2:2020;

   2. adherence to the inverter installation standard AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 for Part 1A DG applications; and

   3. adherence to the inverter performance standard AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 (including amendments 1 and 2) for all low voltage DG applications;

4. making further consequential amendments to reflect these changes.

The amendment also amends the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Application for Distributed Generation) 2021 to revoke clause 8 of that instrument, removing the automatic revocation of the amendments made in clauses 4, 5, 6(2) and 7(3) of that instrument.