Evolving multiple trading and switching

Evolving multiple retailing and switching – supplementary consultation

Upcoming Open Closed Decision
View submissions Submissions closed 20 February 2026
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Decision

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on this consultation.

Switching

The Electricity Authority made a provisional decision to amend the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 to modernise electricity switching processes.

The proposed changes would modernise switching arrangements, improve data accuracy, and increase the efficiency and reliability of market processes, helping to reduce switching delays and billing issues for consumers.

The Authority is seeking technical feedback on the draft Code amendments in this consultation during August and September 2026.

Multiple trading relationships

Consultation feedback showed broad support for the objectives and potential benefits of MTRs. However, stakeholders also raised concerns about the scale, complexity, costs, and timing of implementation.

Given the significance of the proposed changes, the Authority has decided not to progress MTRs to a Code amendment at this stage.

Instead, we are considering a regulator-led sandbox to test a range of scalable MTR use cases, in a real-world environment. The sandbox would help build the evidence needed to better understand potential benefits, costs, risks and implementation challenges associated with MTRs

We will work with industry participants, consumers, technology providers and other stakeholders from August to October 2026 to explore the scope and design of a proposed sandbox.

Consultation

This consultation sought feedback on a proposed new approach for multiple trading relationships, our assessment of the costs and benefits, as well as an independent cost-benefit analysis.

This approach is simpler, more cost-effective, and quicker to implement, meaning earlier benefits for consumers.

These changes follow feedback from our June-July consultation where submitters raised concerns about the complexity and cost of implementation.

Our proposal would unlock choice for consumers by allowing them to use two different retailers – one for electricity consumption and another for generation. It is part of our consumer mobility work to provide more choice, more control and better value for consumers.

Consultation paper

Evolving multiple trading and switching - supplementary consultation paper

Submissions

Download all submissions (.zip)