Our projects
Enabling investment and innovation

Transitioning to a more digital electricity system

Supporting New Zealand’s transition to a smarter, more connected and data-driven energy system.

  • Consumers
  • Innovation

    • Overview

    We want a smarter, more digitalised energy system that supports a reliable electricity supply delivered at lowest cost to New Zealanders. We see a future where households and businesses can easily choose to be active participants in the electricity system. They are equipped with data and innovative tools to switch providers, take advantage of new products and services, and share power with others in a system that works for them.

    Digitalisation will also help optimise the electricity system, create efficiencies and opportunities so it is more affordable and reliable for all New Zealanders.

    A system-wide view

    In July 2026, we released a system-wide map that presents a collective vision for a digitalised electricity system and describes the possible initiatives to get us there.

    The digitalisation system map is available as a webpage and a PDF.

    This is based on feedback on the ‘Our future is digital’ discussion paper and a series of workshops in 2025.

    The map includes the possible actions that could be delivered across the sector, and beyond, in the short, medium and long term.

    We are already progressing a number of these initiatives to support and will use the system map to inform our future work programmes.

    We will monitor the progress of the initiatives in the system map and update it as needed. We expect the system map to evolve as initiatives progress and the sector transforms.

    We invite people to continue engaging with us to better inform actions across the sector as we work towards enabling this vision of a digital future.

    Contact us at digitalisation@ea.govt.nz

    Timeline

    Past activity

    Project background

    This project is about shaping the industry rules to support New Zealand’s transition to a smarter, more connected and data-driven energy system.

    We want to enable a digitalised electricity system that harnesses the power of data and new technologies to efficiently deliver a secure and reliable electricity supply, at the lowest possible cost. This will enable people to actively participate in and benefit from the electricity system.

    We have a number of projects underway to support the transition towards a more digitalised system. For example, we are:

    Digitalisation is one of the three inter-related global trends that support a shift to a decentralised electricity system.

    Decentralisation in this context means shifting from large-scale electricity generation at a small number of sites across the country, to smaller-scale renewables and other energy resources located closer to consumers.

    We have started the necessary discussion and debate around decentralisation and the future of our electricity system.

    Meeting the future needs of New Zealanders

    Other projects in Enabling investment and innovation
    View all projects

    Network connections

    Improving the efficiency of connecting to the distribution network and upgrading existing connections.

    Have your say

    Submissions open until 6 October 2026

    View consultation

    Energy Competition Task Force

    Investigating actions to strengthen the performance of the electricity market for the benefit of all consumers.

    View project

    Spot market settlement on real-time pricing

    Dispatch-based, look-ahead design for real-time pricing to make wholesale spot prices more certain, accurate and efficient.

    View project