Authority unlocks more choice for consumers with new and improved data standards

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) has announced new information-sharing protocols to standardise and improve access to electricity plans, products and usage information.

The new standards are designed to give people a clearer picture of the electricity plan they are on, and how they use electricity. They also support the future development of more automated and digital data-sharing services across the electricity sector.

“This is part of a suite of changes to empower consumers. It’ll be easier to compare different offers from power companies and decide what’s going to work best for you and your whānau,” says Andrew Millar, General Manager Retail and Consumer.

The changes follow the Authority’s decision in April 2026 to prescribe the new Electricity Information Exchange Protocol 14A (EIEP14A). Together, the new EIEP14B standard, and improved EIEP13A and EIEP13B standards, strengthen the information exchange infrastructure of the retail electricity market.

In particular, the new EIEP14B prescribes a standardised format for how power companies provide information on someone’s current electricity plan. Comparison and switching services will be able to use this information to compare a consumer’s current plan against other plans available on the market.

Consumers can request information about their plan and electricity use by contacting their power company or authorising another party to do that for them. Power companies will need to verify that the person or service requesting the information has obtained consent before providing the information.

The new and updated standards support the Authority’s broader work programme to enhance competition and deliver more choice to consumers.

“What’s good for competition is good for consumers,” says Andrew Miller. “It all helps put downward pressure on prices which puts more money in people’s pocket.”

The Authority received feedback from some retailers during consultation that implementation timeframes were challenging. While the implementation date of 30 October remains unchanged, the Authority expects deferral of the deadline for billing reform to make it easier for retailers to deliver new EIEP standards.

View decision paper