New industry participants

There are lots of different participants in the electricity industry – from generators to distributors, line owners, load aggregators, ancillary service agents, metering equipment providers and owners.

See list of industry participants (Section 7 of the Act)

The definition of each industry participant type is broad – you may be a participant without realising it.

See definitions of industry participants (Section 5 of the Act)

The following two classes of industry participants are exempt from having to register:

• owners of distributed generation with less than 100 kWh of nameplate capacity connected to a distribution network
• metering equipment owners who are consumers of electricity at the ICP and who own metering equipment only for the purpose of measuring electricity at the ICP.

View Electricity (Exemptions from Registration) Regulations 2022.

To become an industry participant, you can apply online for free registration on our Participant register. It's a register of all participants in New Zealand's electricity industry.

All industry participants have a statutory obligation to register and keep their details up to date on our Participant register.

See registration and requirement to update information (Section 29 of the Act)

If a participant fails to register or keep their information up to date, this could be an offence that is liable on conviction to a fine.

See offences relating to registration (Section 31 of the Act)

A participant identifier is required to access electricity market systems and trade in the market.

Industry participants, government agencies and third-party providers can apply for an identifier on our Participant register.

It's free to register as an industry participant and free to apply for a participant identifier.

All industry participants who perform market-related activities must pay a levy by law.

View the Electricity (Levy of Industry Participants) Regulations 2010