New network connections policy to provide clarity and consistency

Electricity Networks Aotearoa (ENA), the body representing New Zealand’s 28 distributors, has recently published the policy document, Queueing and management policy and clock stop/start mechanism for distributors.

This is in response to a requirement by the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) that industry develop a common policy for managing applications to connect, regardless of which distributor is involved.

This requirement is part of our Network connections project: stage one initiative, which focuses on creating efficiencies in the application processes for connecting distributed generation (like solar farms) and large load (like industrial plant) to distribution networks. This will encourage efficient development of new businesses and critical infrastructure.

Consumers are likely to benefit from a more consistent and transparent connection process, providing greater certainty for new housing and infrastructure projects, such as public EV charging stations, manufacturing facilities and solar farms.

The Queueing and management policy was developed through ENA’s Future Networks Forum. It sets out how distributors will prioritise applications to connect and where justified, allows more ‘connection ready’ applications to advance ahead of slow moving or stalled applications. This is important to support New Zealand’s transition to greater electrification.

According to amendments the Authority has made to the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010, the policy will apply to all large distributed generation applications from 1 December 2026, and to all large load applications from 1 June 2027.

What’s particularly interesting is that this policy represents a new variation on the regulation process. Rather than simply impose rules, the Authority has looked to industry to devise and agree on a common approach for processing applications. We recognise they are experts who know what works best from a practical perspective.

We commend ENA for leading this work and welcome the document’s publication.

Access seekers should read the policy as it sets out how their application will progress, including in relation to other applications waiting to connect. If access seekers have any queries, they should contact ENA directly.