Industry

Distribution

Distribution refers to the power poles and lines that you can see across our streets and bush. Distribution companies transport electricity to homes and businesses where it is consumed. They reduce the voltage from the transmission system to a voltage that’s safe to use.

About distribution

A linesman connects a new house in Sheffield, Canterbury to the grid
Our role

What we do

We're responsible for overseeing distributors' interactions with other industry participants and ensuring they comply with the requirements of the Code.

Our role

More about distribution

Learn about how distributors operate and interact, their responsibilities and obligations. This section includes general information, as well as more technical information for industry participants.

Distribution pricing

Efficient distribution pricing helps provide a reliable and affordable electricity supply for consumers.

Distributors must reference our distribution pricing principles, publish their pricing methodology and discuss their pricing plans and progress with us each year.

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Distribution losses

As electricity travels through power lines, a proportion of energy is lost as heat, due to the resistance in the lines.

Distributors need to adopt a methodology to determine and allocate losses arising on their networks.

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Distributed generation

Distributed generation refers to technologies that generate electricity at or near where it will be used, such as solar panels.

We monitor and support the compliance of distributors and generators on the connection of distributed generation to distributors’ networks.

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Distributors' obligations

Distributors must comply with their industry obligations set out in the Code. We have industry guidelines to support distributors to implement best practice.

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Tools and resources for industry

We have many tools for participants in the electricity industry to track breaches, submit reports, access data and financial resources.

  • Participant register

    A register of all participants in New Zealand's electricity industry. Use this register to apply to become an industry participant and for a participant identifier.

    View register
  • Electricity registry

    For industry participants to manage reconciliation, invoicing and consumer switching processes. It holds information on all the installation connection points in New Zealand.

    Login
  • Information exchange

    Regular and/or large volumes of information can be efficiently exchanged between industry participants using the electricity information exchange protocols.

    Login
  • Trading conduct reports

    Learn what's happening in the wholesale market and see if any trading periods have been highlighted for further analysis.

    Reports
  • Compliance portal

    Use this portal to report an alleged breach, view breach reports and decisions.

    Login
  • Industry guidelines

    Electricity regulation is complex and technical. Find industry-specific best practice guidance here.

    Guidelines
  • Access consumer data

    Find out how to access connection, consumption and tariff information.

    Learn more

Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010

The rules for all industry participants.

Report a breach

Industry participants are obliged by law to report all Code breaches.

The place to go for all electricity data

Access electricity data, market performance metrics and analytical tools.
Visit EMI website