Register now for the Industry Exercise 2026

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko and Transpower invite organisations across the electricity sector to register for the Industry Exercise on 20-21 May 2026.

This year’s exercise will simulate a hypothetical major space weather event. It is an opportunity for electricity market participants to practise how to manage the potential impacts on Aotearoa’s power system and minimise any impact on electricity consumers.

Registration is open now so organisations can join the preparation webinar on Thursday 5 March at 1.00pm. This webinar will explain what space weather is, how it can affect New Zealand’s electricity system, and how the sector can respond.

We invite all generators, lines companies, direct-connect industrial customers and retailers to register a key contact and their Industry Exercise team of operations and communications staff by Friday 27 February.

Use this form to register now

Space weather is a timely focus for this year’s exercise. The sun is at ‘solar maximum’, the most active phase in its eleven‑year cycle, which is expected to last until 2027. This means that both the likelihood and impact of significant space weather events are higher than usual.

Now is the right time for the electricity industry and other organisations to practise how we would respond together.

Participating in the exercise will help your organisation:

• practise operational and communications processes for a major unexpected event
• get familiar with System Operator processes and communications
• identify opportunities to strengthen how we work together during a major power system event.

To prepare participants for the May exercise, there will be a:

• Thursday 5 March 1.00-2.30pm webinar on space weather and its potential impacts
• Tuesday 12 May 1.00-2.30pm exercise briefing on processes and expectations.

Your involvement will help strengthen sector wide preparedness, support national resilience, and help minimise any potential impact on electricity customers across the motu.

We look forward to you taking part. For any questions, please contact IndustryExercise@transpower.co.nz