Voluntary network tariff pilot
We're providing enhanced regulatory support to The Lines Company's voluntary network tariff pilot as part of the Power Innovation Pathway.
The Lines Company
Community energy in action
The Lines Company is developing an innovative voluntary network tariff that enables customers with solar panels to donate excess energy to vulnerable customers across the network, regardless of which retailer either uses.
Sharing solar, supporting whānau
Current electricity rules make it difficult for people in the same community to share surplus solar energy, as they must use the same electricity retailer.
The Lines Company is developing an innovative voluntary network tariff that enables customers with solar panels to donate excess energy to vulnerable customers across the network, regardless of which retailer either uses.
The proposed mechanism would allow The Lines Company to directly collect the value of any surplus solar and redistribute it to those in need. This retailer-agnostic approach unlocks the benefits of peer-to-peer energy sharing, fostering community collaboration while providing a practical pathway for energy equity within the network.
About The Lines Company
The Lines Company is focused on supporting its owners, the Te Kūiti community.
After working closely with Te Nehenehenui Trust to gift solar credits to Kuia and Kaumātua, The Lines Company saw firsthand the strong community spirit around sharing energy and the practical challenges that make it hard to do so on a larger scale.
Power Innovation Pathway support
The Electricity Authority is supporting this initiative to inform regulation and enable a more flexible, reliable and affordable electricity system for the benefit of all consumers.
Providing regulatory support
We are providing The Lines Company with regulatory advice as it navigates complex regulations and advocating for simpler compliance processes.
For example, regulations could increase The Lines Company's customer codes from 26 to 260, creating potentially inefficient administrative costs. There is also a two-month advance notices period that distributors have to provide retailers which is slowing down implementation.
Informing the Authority’s work programme
Our Compliance and Network Policy teams are supporting this pilot to identify potential changes to the Electricity Industry Participation Code to streamline a solution for all participants.
We are also Also, to understand how peer-to-peer energy sharing can be enabled, and scaled, under existing regulations without the need for complex multiple trading exemptions (see our project Evolving multiple retailing and switching).