Power Innovation Pathway

Kia ora innovators

Welcome to the Power Innovation Pathway

The Power Innovation Pathway is our ‘open front door’ for innovators wanting easy access to regulatory information and support to bring fresh ideas to market faster.

This could be a concept which benefits all Kiwis, or be a local solution for your community.

To ‘step in the door’ and open the conversation with us, we invite you to tell us a bit about your new idea or concept by completing the Pathway entry form. This should only take you 10-15 minutes.

We are providing enhanced regulatory support to eight high-value initiatives from the Pathway's first priority round (closed 18 October 2024).

The Power Innovation Pathway is an ongoing initiative and applications for general regulatory support remain open. A second priority round to receive enhanced regulatory support will be announced soon.

Enter the Pathway

Access regulatory information and support.

Our goals

Open access for innovators

An accessible, structured process for innovators to engage with us and receive the regulatory guidance you need.
Regulatory clarity

Addressing real or perceived regulatory barriers to help innovators progress their ideas more efficiently.
Accelerating high-value ideas

Supporting innovative ideas with potential to deliver significant benefit to electricity consumers.
Deepening market understanding

Builds the Authority’s understanding of emerging opportunities and barriers, to enable more effective and adaptive regulation.

How it works

Pathway visualisation

Step by step

The Pathway provides a streamlined process for innovators to receive regulatory advice and support through the following steps:

Step 1: Enter the pathway

Innovators submit their ideas through the Pathway entry form, designed to streamline the initial engagement process.

Step 2: We review your information

We review each innovator's entry and provide a tailored response. Responses could range from initial advice to next-step recommendations or a request for clarification.

Step 3: We meet with you

Where more in-depth engagement and/or advice is required, we will meet with innovators to clarify their needs, regulatory questions and potential next steps. This helps achieve mutual understanding of the challenges and opportunities.

Step 4: You present your initative

We will invite innovators we identify as likely to benefit from additional support to present their projects to the Electricity Authority and other industry stakeholders, to have deeper conversations about the project’s potential.

Step 5: Select initiatives are trialled

High-value and/or highly feasible innovations will proceed to real-world trials, receiving enhanced regulatory support to guide their success.

This additional support is part of an enhanced regulatory programme offered to selected participants.

The second round for enhanced regulatory support will be announced soon.

Step 6: Learnings are shared

The Electricity Authority will use innovators' perspectives, submission themes and the lessons learned from trials and share relevant insights across the sector. The aim is to reduce regulatory barriers for all and better enable innovation that benefits consumers and leads to a more efficient, resilient and competitive sector.

Visualisation pathway

Meet the energy system

We will help clarify the relationships important to your success.

Enter the Pathway

News

The latest news on the Pathway...

Authority identifies two more high-value initiatives for Power Innovation Pathway support

27 May 2025

Two more initiatives will receive enhanced regulatory support via the Authority's Power Innovation Pathway, to help unlock innovation in New Zealand’s electricity sector and improve long-term outcomes for consumers.

Learn more