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The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment opened consultation on a discussion document about amendments to the Electricity Safety Regulations to expand the permitted voltage range for electricity supply. Rewiring Aotearoa's submission believes changes are needed to prepare for the rapid adoption of customer energy resources, and electricity distribution companies need to be compelled to allow export limits to be increased.
Overall, Rewiring Aotearoa welcomes the proposals made in the consultation. It is an important step towards better preparing the Aotearoa NZ’s energy system for the efficient and rapid rollout of customer energy resources (CER) across homes, farms, and businesses.
However, changing the standards does not compel EDBs to amend their existing export limits on CER. The Government (following this consultation) should set an expectation that EDBs move quickly to integrate these updated voltage standards into their export limits. This would effectively double the default export limit for households, encouraging the installation of larger solar systems. These systems would not only help reduce energy costs but also contribute to greater energy security by storing more energy for peak winter demand, thus helping to keep water in hydro dams when it's needed most. A phased approach could delay these benefits, while immediate action will support a faster transition to a more resilient, decentralised energy system.
High fuel prices are hurting different demographics in different ways. We've seen stories of low-income households having to choose between food and transport; businesses reliant on diesel that are on the brink as margins shrink; and now, those in rural districts spending "as much as five times more of their household budgets on fuel than city dwellers".
Paul Spain heads to Central Otago to meet Mike Casey at Electric Cherries, exploring what happens when tech thinking meets hands‑on farming. Mike shares his journey from scaling tech startups in Sydney to creating New Zealand’s first fully electric cherry orchard, powered by onsite solar to reduce energy costs and build long‑term resilience. The conversation dives into the real economics of electrification, smart infrastructure choices, and how practical technology decisions can unlock productivity, sustainability, and future growth for New Zealand businesses.
Read moreDownloadThe OECD has just released its 2026 report on New Zealand's economy. And when it comes to energy, it basically gave us a 'must try harder' grade. On the proposed LNG terminal - which, remarkably, is still not dead yet despite all evidence suggesting it should be - the OECD said, as we have said, that it would not serve its intended function of lowering prices.
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