CAC Uncomfortable Examples
CAC submissions that were “uncomfortable” for the EA These are the stand-out ones that really put the heat on the Authority’s performance and mandate. (a) Consumer Care Guidelines – “voluntary isn’t good enough” In October 2023, CAC’s submission on Options to update and strengthen the Consumer Care Guidelines said, in essence: That’s a very direct […]
CAC too Effective?
Why the Closure of the Consumer Advocacy Council Matters More Than Wellington Admits New Zealand is trying to upgrade an electricity system built for the 1980s into one that can support rooftop solar, home batteries, EVs, V2G, flexible demand, and local energy markets.That transition requires public trust — especially from the households and small businesses […]
CAC Gone
Who speaks for consumers now that the Consumer Advocacy Council is gone? In 2019, the Electricity Price Review (EPR) concluded something basic but important:small electricity consumers didn’t have a strong, independent voice in the system. To fix that, the Government set up the Consumer Advocacy Council (CAC) in 2020 as a ministerial advisory committee. Its […]
V2G Imminent
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): Your Car as a Power Station Electric vehicles are quietly becoming one of the most powerful energy assets ever built. Soon, the same battery that drives you to work could also help power your home, your school, and your community. What’s Coming Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology allows an EV to both charge and discharge […]
Poles and Wires Charges Inefficient – Unfair
The Problem: “Socialised” Distribution Charges Right now, every New Zealander pays averaged delivery prices to get electricity to your home.That means you pay roughly the same line charge whether your power travels: The true delivery cost isn’t the same — not even close — but the system hides it.Long-distance users get a discount they don’t […]
45 kVA Distraction
Definition of Small Business – Code Amendment Proposal This submission responds to the Electricity Authority’s (EA) consultation requiring distributors to pay negative charges to reward households and small businesses for exporting power to the network during peak times.It is grounded in a simple principle: anyone supplying goods or services that reduce system cost or improve […]
Beyond the 10 kW Export Limit
The Electricity Authority has called for submissions on allowing households to export up to 10 kW from their rooftop solar systems — an important step toward unlocking more distributed generation across New Zealand. But this consultation also acknowledges what many consumers have known for years: the long-standing 5 kW limit was never technically necessary. With […]
10 kW Export Limit
Maximising benefits from local electricity generation Submission to the Electricity Authority. Consultation on Distributed Generation Export Limits (10 kW Single Phase) Summary Three of New Zealand’s most forward‑thinking electricity distribution businesses — Aurora Energy, Powerco, and Northpower — have already raised their single‑phase export limits to 10 kW without waiting for regulation. This submission supports adopting the 10 kW […]
Decentralised Electricity
Submission to the EA Green Paper 25 June 2025 Why: The Green Paper Maps the Direction The Authority’s Green Paper effectively maps the direction of change — identifying the need for more distributed energy resources (DER), localised energy markets, and smarter network coordination. It articulates the challenges, outlines opportunities for reform, and raises important questions […]
Importing Sunshine: A Fairer Power Plan for NZ
Most of us don’t follow government electricity policy. We just want power that is reliable, affordable and clean. The good news is there’s a simple, practical idea that ticks all three boxes: use a smart undersea cable to move cheap sunshine across time zones and let our cars act like small batteries. Do those two […]