Transitioning to a more digital electricity system

Our future is digital

Upcoming Open Closed Decision

View submissions Submissions closed 10 July 2025

Decision

In the future, people will have even more choices to manage their electricity use and supply as technologies get smarter and more data becomes available. The systems and process that underpin New Zealand's electricity system will also become more data-driven and automated.

To help prepare for this future, we have created a system-wide map that presents a collective vision for a digitalised electricity system and outlines the possible initiatives to get us there.

Digitalisation system map webpage and PDF.

The map was informed by feedback on our discussion paper and through a series of workshops.

This supporting note details how feedback informed this work.

The map is designed to help identify opportunities, encourage collaboration and accelerate action to drive towards a more digitalised electricity system.

We will use the map to inform our future work programmes that support a more affordable and reliable electricity system.

Our future is digital - system map supporting note

Next steps

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

We also invite people to continue engaging with us to better inform actions across the sector and as the system map evolves.

Get in touch with us at digitalisation@ea.govt.nz

Consultation

In future, people will have even more choices to manage their electricity use and supply as technologies get smarter and more data becomes available. The systems and process that underpin New Zealand's electricity system will also become more data-driven and automated.

To help prepare for this future, we sought feedback on a discussion paper Our future is digital to test our ideas on a more data-driven and technology-enabled electricity system.

The paper is an opportunity for the energy industry, tech sector and innovators to challenge the status quo and imagine how data and technology could shape our future electricity system and the ways New Zealanders participate in it.

A smarter, more digitalised energy system supports increased consumer mobility – a future where households and businesses are active participants, 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.

Discussion paper