Feedback on joint regulators’ open letter to enable more efficient networks

The Electricity Authority has published a summary of the feedback received on the open letter we issued with the Commerce Commission and Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) on enabling efficient non‑network solutions.

All three regulators are now considering the feedback, which will inform the development and refinement of our respective and complementary work programmes.

The open letter called for distributors to actively consider non-network solutions to efficiently manage and grow their networks.

The feedback is in response to the open letter to distributors issued by the three regulators in February 2026.

The letter detailed how non-network solutions – such as flexing electricity use and generation on networks, energy efficiency, distributed generation and storage – can support growing demand on networks at a lower cost compared to the traditional approach of extending the network.

The letter acknowledged non-network solutions aren’t always the best, most efficient option. But the regulators want to ensure distributors consider them as possible alternatives and we outlined in the letter three broad actions we expect distributors to take.

Most submitters strongly agreed that non-network solutions can play an important role in keeping systems costs down as the country continues to electrify.

However, there were different views on how quickly non-network solutions could be relied on, through what mechanisms this could be achieved, and what safeguards are needed to ensure reliability.

Submitters also suggested areas where each of the three regulators could support non-network solutions.

A summary of submissions provides a detailed overview of the feedback we received.

The regulators are working through submissions to consider next steps to enable more non-network solutions where they support an efficient, reliable and lower-cost network for consumers.