FNF Innovation Forum

Dates: 11-12 March

Where: Kumutoto – Taniwha rooms, PwC Building 10 Waterloo Quay, Wellington. There is also the option to attend this event online via Teams.

Registration Details

The cost to attend in person is $100 per person per day. Online attendance via Teams is free.

Non-EDB attendees can receive a discount code. If you’re not from a lines company, please email fnf@electricity.org.nz to get a code before registering.

Register here

Once registered, you’ll receive an Outlook invitation from the Future Networks Forum team with details for the event.

Agenda for day one: 11 March

On day 1, EDB representatives will kōrero with a number of external stakeholders to share challenges and priorities for change in the sector. Following this, there will be a social catchup in the evening.

Date: Tuesday 11 March 2025
Time: 9:30 - 17:00 (followed by a social get-together)
Place: Kumutoto – Taniwha rooms, PwC Building 10 Waterloo Quay, Wellington.

Time	Title	Speaker
09:30 – 10:00	Registration and morning tea
10:00 – 10:20	Opening karakia and welcome from the FNF Co-Chairs plus update on FNF progress [20m]	FNF Co-Chairs James Tipping GM Market Strategy & Regulation, Vector Sam Elder GM Energy Futures, Orion
10:20 – 10:30	ENA update [10m]	Richard Le Gros Policy & Innovation Manager, ENA
10:30 – 11:15	Concept Consulting forecasting tool [45m]	Simon Coates Director, Concept Consulting Group
11:15 - 12:00	Commerce Commission INTSA guidance [45m] The Commission will provide an overview of the DPP4 Innovation and Non-Traditional Solutions Allowance criteria and discuss the associated guidance document it will release prior to the start of DPP4. There will also be an opportunity for a question-and-answer session on the intended operation of the allowance	Ben Woodham Electricity Distribution Manager, Commerce Commission Peter Hunter Senior Analyst – Electricity Distribution, Commerce Commission
12:00 - 13:00	Lunch [60m]
13:00 – 13:45	EECA presentation [45m] This session will cover a brief outline of EECA’s scaled demand flexibility pilots (residential and industrial). It will also cover a brief update of the EECA and MBIE work on smart EV charger regulation.	Brian Fitzgerald Technical Lead, EECA Kanchana Marasinghe Innovation Portfolio Manager, EECA
13:45 - 14:45	Flexibility Markets and Services Panel [60m] Join industry leaders as they explore how flexibility markets and services are reshaping New Zealand's electricity sector. This dynamic panel brings together perspectives from Distribution, Retail, and Technology providers to discuss creating customer value, overcoming regulatory challenges, and unlocking new opportunities in our evolving energy landscape.	Moonis Vegdani (Panel Facilitator) Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Counties Energy Renato Bitac Technical Manager - Strategic Capacity, Aurora Energy Evie Trolove Head of Market and Customer Innovation, Orion Robert Burke CEO & CRO, WMAC.Cloud Jason Christini-Crawford Smart Grid Programme Manager, Ecotricity NZ Paul Blue GM Network, Counties Energy
14:45 - 15:15	Afternoon tea [30m]
15:15 - 16:15	Energy Queensland will share an overview and early insights from their work on Local Renewable Energy Zones (LREZ) and Community Battery programme. [60m] Energy Queensland have a programme to support the renewable energy transition in Queensland with the scaled deployment of batteries, delivery of Distribution System Operator least regrets options with the aim of reducing barriers to increased solar and EV uptake by Queensland customers. Currently Energy Queensland are deploying 50 High Voltage and 200 Low Voltage connected batteries across the state. Glenn Dahlenburg will present on the key lessons learned from the battery deployment and Glenn Springall will be available to discuss the least regrets DSO enablers such as how Dynamic Connections and DERMS are enabling higher levels of PV and EV adoption. If you feel like delving into any pre-reading, here are some options that Energy Queensland have recommended: Utility-scale Network Batteries \| Talking Energy Neighbourhood Batteries \| Talking Energy Leveraging the Distribution Grid in support of the Energy Transition Supporting secure operation with high levels of distributed resources Q4 2024	Glenn Dahlenburg General Manager Energy Storage, Energy Queensland Glenn Springall General Manager Renewables and Distributed Energy, Energy Queensland
16:15 - 16:45	Spotlight on Innovation: Energy Transition and Network Transformation [30m] This 30-minute session features 6 x 5-minute pitches from EDB representatives. This is an open floor for participants to share or pitch initiatives related to energy transition and network transformation that they have completed, are currently undertaking, or are planning. Speakers should highlight their project insights, and outcomes, answering the critical question: “So what?” – what does this initiative mean for other EDBs?	Gaganpreet Chadha GM Networks and Operations, Unison Lingsong Zheng Head of Network, Innovation and Performance, WEL Networks Matt Smith Policy Advisor in Strategic Planning, Vector Ryno Verster GM Business Strategy, Powerco Dr Stuart Johnston Lead Advisor Engineering and Technical, Electricity Engineers Association (EEA)
16:45 - 17:00	Wrap-up and closing karakia from the FNF Co-Chairs [15m]	James Tipping GM Market Strategy & Regulation, Vector Sam Elder GM Energy Futures, Orion
17:00 onwards	Event close and social catch-up at Flamingo Joes in Central Wellington

Organisations attending day one:

Electricity distribution businesses
Electricity Networks Aotearoa
Electricity Engineers’ Association
Transpower
Electricity Authority
Commerce Commission
Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority
Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment
Ara Ake
New Zealand Infrastructure Commission
SEANZ

Agenda for day two: 12 March

On Day 2, attendees from EDBs will participate in workshops for FNF projects, focusing on building shared capability and alignment within the sector.

Date:   Wednesday 12 March 2025
Time: 8:30 - 14:10
Place:  Kumutoto – Taniwha rooms, PwC Building 10 Waterloo Quay, Wellington.

Time	Title	Speaker
08:30 – 08:50	Registration
8:50 – 9:10	Opening karakia and welcome from the FNF Co-Chairs [20m]	FNF Co-Chairs James Tipping GM Market Strategy & Regulation, Vector Sam Elder GM Energy Futures, Orion
9:10 – 9:35	Reflections on yesterday [25m]	FNF Co-Chairs
9:35 – 10:35	NTR review [60m] Co-creating a step change in the scale and pace of network transformation, leveraging INTSA and the FNF.	FNF Co-Chairs
10:35 – 11:00	Morning tea [25m]
11:00 – 11:20	ENA Common Load Management Protocol Project [20m] This session will give a quick update and Q&A on the FNF project to develop a common Load Management Protocol for use by EDBs and retailers	Richard Le Gros Policy & Innovation Manager, ENA
11:20 - 11:40	Connections Journey Mapping project update and check in [20m] Update of the project and highlight over the EA & EEA updates and launch of the 5 quick win deliverables with next steps	Jamie Silk Director, Silk Advisory and Innovation Ltd
11:40 - 12:40	Capabilities, Roles and Functions [60m] Stage 2 of this project focuses on DSO models and industry architecture to enable distributed flexibility. The output of this stage is a DSO models report which will be published in mid-April. During this session, Baringa will provide an update on the draft report and attendees will have an opportunity to discuss and provide feedback.	Evie Trolove Head of Market & Customer Innovation, Orion
12:40 - 13:00	Customer Segmentation project update and check in [20m]	Anca Cernic Customer Insights Manager, Vector
13:00 - 13:10	Wrap-up and closing karakia [20m]	FNF Co-Chairs
13:10 – 14:10	Lunch [60m]

Organisations attending day two:

Electricity distribution businesses
Electricity Engineers’ Association
Transpower