Facilitating pan-industry projects for the benefit of everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand
Our nation has committed to a net zero carbon economy by 2050 and the electricity system is undergoing significant transformation as businesses and communities electrify. Our electricity system must decarbonise while ensuring affordability for consumers and maintaining the security and reliability of the power grid.
To do that, we need wide-spread collaboration and industry coordination.
The EEA plays a critical role in leading and contributing to a range of pan-industry projects.
Streamlining Connections
The EEA is collaborating closely with the Electricity Authority’s (EA) Network Connections Technical Group (NCTG), and the Electricity Networks Aotearoa’s (ENA) Future Networks Forum’s (FNF) Connections Programme to collectively streamline and better enable distributed generation and load connections with EDB networks.
EEA releases Technical Connections Review Report
With support from the Electricity Authority, the EEA has released the final technical connections review report – Review of distributor connection technical standards: findings and recommendations for Aotearoa New Zealand.
This report provides the first comprehensive review of distributor connection documentation across New Zealand, covering Codes of Practice (COPS) and Network Connection Standards (NCS). It highlights areas where clarity, consistency, and currency can be improved to support better outcomes for consumers, installers, and networks.
Key findings include:
- Significant variation in how connection requirements are structured and published.
- Outdated and inconsistent references to standards such as AS/NZS 4777 and AS/NZS 3000.
- Opportunities to improve transparency and confidence through version control, scheduled reviews, and standardised formats.
The report provides an evidence base for the development of national, standardised connection guidelines, beginning with household distributed energy resources (LV) and medium voltage, to deliver clear and more consistent processes across the sector.
Find out more about the streamlining connections programme
FlexTalk
The EEA is leading FlexTalk in partnership with industry and Te Tari Tiaki Pungao / the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). The project is exploring how to better enable maximum participation in flexibility services.
Re-Energise 2025
The Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA) has joined with Energy Resources Aotearoa to develop a comprehensive 2025 national energy workforce report and action plan. This project builds on the 2022 Re-energise report and seeks to develop a plan of action that reflects the evolution of the energy workforce and will be a living document, regularly updated in response to change and emerging future needs.