We bring together a number of working groups and forums for lines companies to discuss opportunities and challenges and to work collaboratively. Each group has a different structure and ENA plays a different role. The groups are described below including how you can join or find out more info.
The Future Networks Forum (FNF) identifies opportunities where lines companies can align to help Aotearoa reach our climate change goals and create value for customers. Below is a short summary of the initiatives currently being worked on.
The FNF is co-chaired by Sam Elder from Orion and James Tipping from Vector and the group is made up of representatives from across 25 lines companies.
New members are encouraged to join the Future Networks Forum so we can form a comprehensive view across all lines companies. If you’re from a lines company, and you want to find out more, please email us at FNF@electricity.org.nz.
ENA members can login to the full FNF pages, which include reports and resources, here.
If you’d like to hear more about the FNF – or a particular project – email FNF@electricity.org.nz.
We’re starting to see more and more distributed energy resources (DER), like solar panels and battery systems, in Aotearoa. As these numbers grow, lines companies will need to plan and operate their networks differently. They will need new capabilities to ensure DER are managed in a smart and flexible way – including shared control of hot water.
If we get this right, it will not only benefit consumers who own the DER, but all electricity consumers as they won’t have to pay for the lines companies to build as much additional capacity into the network.
Several lines companies in Aotearoa have piloted solutions for how to manage DER in a flexible way. And some countries, like Australia and the UK, have a lot of insights that we can borrow about how to leverage DER for operational efficiency and building more reliance into the electricity system.
A project within ENA's Future Network Forum has paired international research with significant engagement with our domestic lines companies to determine what new capability, roles, functions we need to enable flexibility here in Aotearoa.
In September 2024, we ran two webinars, one for EDBs and one for external stakeholders. You can see the presentation and the poll results from our external webinar.
Stage two of this FNF project will be about evaluating the industry architecture and models for distribution system operation (DSO) to fulfil the roles and functions. We will be engaging with the wider sector about this.
This project will help to underpin all wider FNF projects. It’s building a shared understanding and common language amongst lines companies about who our customers are (both connected consumers and non-consumer customers), their current and future needs, and the pain points in their customer journeys – which lines companies may be well-placed to address. This is a core foundational piece, and will ensure a customer-centric approach to FNF’s ongoing prioritisation and work programme.
The need for high-speed public EV charging stations, together with the growth of applications to connect distributed generation, is one of the reasons that this project is so important. The FNF ‘Connections Journey Mapping’ project is about aligning EDBs’ processes to improve the connections journey for customers.
The project members are working closely with the Electricity Engineers’ Association and the Electricity Authority (who are also doing work in this space) to ensure that the projects align nicely so we can create real improvements in the customer connections journey.
The project team has engaged with charge point operators, large distributed generation customers and lines companies to fully understand their pain points and discuss potential solutions. As a result of this engagement, the team has come up with a long-list of 13 action points to improve the customer journey, from pre-application right through to delivery. The team believes these will also benefit other connections stakeholders following feedback EDBs have received.
The plan is to deliver the ‘quick win’ solutions first, and develop a delivery plan for the longer-term deliverables.
The quick-wins that are being worked on first are:
The first output in this list of 13 has been completed. We have developed a glossary that will help all lines companies to use standard terminology when it comes to the connection process. This has been sent to all lines companies so they can adopt the glossary and start to use standard terminology. Check out the glossary here.
With more retailers managing load across distribution networks, we urgently need a common protocol in place for how load is managed in network and grid emergencies. Different load management rules across Aotearoa would increase complexity and the risk of error. A consistent approach will help ensure a continuous, reliable supply of energy for all consumers. Therefore, a common Load Management Protocol will benefit consumers, EDBs and retailers.
The Future Network Forum (FNF) load management protocol aims to provide a common set of terms for how retailers and EDBs coordinate their load management activities in instances of network and grid emergencies. Load management will include hot water and also other load such as EV chargers.
The aim is to produce a protocol that all EDBs and retailers can adopt and abide by as needed. The protocol will allow EDBs to write specific schedules to the core terms that recognise particular characteristics of their networks.
We need to move at pace and get a protocol in place before winter 2025. This will help to keep the lights on in emergency situations. The first protocol that is created doesn’t need to be set it stone. It will be reviewed and changed if needed.
If agreed to by EDBs and retailers, the protocol will work with and support the requirements of the DDA. If you have specific feedback or pātai about this report, please reach out to us at fnf@electricity.org.nz.
Webinar - 12 Feb 2025
We held a webinar for EDBs and retailers to brief people on the project, the aims, timeframes, and opportunities for people to engage throughout. YOu can watch the recording and view the slides below.
This initiative is exploring commercial mechanisms and enhancing an initial evaluation calculator for flexibility projects, developed by Wellington Electricity and Orion through their Resi-Flex project. The FNF project is identifying potential additional commercial mechanisms and developing a standardised assessment framework for lines companies to compare traditional (infrastructure) network solutions with non-network flexibility solutions.
This project included members from lines companies and Transpower to support industry collaboration and solution development. It completed work focused on Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to assist New Zealand lines companies to understand the current state, facilitate collaboration, and develop a view on future focus areas. It did a deep dive looking at lines companies here in Aotearoa to understand their views on DER, hot water load control, and EV load control. To compliment this, it worked on two outputs:
For any enquiries about this work please email fnf@electricity.org.nz.
The Regulatory Working Group (RWG) was established in 2008. Its focus is on market and economic regulation (especially as administered by the Electricity Authority, Commerce Commission and MBIE).
The group meets six times per year with occasional online meetings held to discuss specific topics or submissions. All documents including meeting agendas, presentations and reports will be sent via email and stored in ENA’s internal Sharepoint.
ENA manages the list of participants. If you are from a lines company and would like to join the group, please email info@electricity.org.nz.
ENA’s Distribution Pricing Working Group was established in 2014. It assists and co-ordinates distributors’ efforts to establish more durable and efficient electricity pricing.
The group communicates (via email) and meets on an ad-hoc basis when needed.
All documents including meeting agendas, presentations and reports will be sent via email and stored in ENA’s internal Sharepoint.
ENA manages the list of participants. If you are from a lines company and would like to join the group, please email info@electricity.org.nz
The Communications and Engagement Forum is a collaboration and support network for all lines companies regarding topics relevant to communicating and engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
Each member can share best practices and lessons, ask for advice, and collaborate with pairs across the motu. Group members can gain insights and knowledge from each other and avoid reinventing the wheel on projects and strategies. The group can act as a sounding board to ENA, to give feedback and advice on key pieces of ENA-led work that may benefit from the input of a customer, communications and engagement lens.
The group meets four times per year. Two online and two in person (with an online option available). The group also communicate (via email or Teams) on an adhoc basis when needed.
All documents including meeting agendas, presentations and reports will be sent via email and stored in ENA’s internal Sharepoint.
ENA manages the list of participants. If you are from a lines company and would like to join the group, please email info@electricity.org.nz
The HR Managers Forum is a collaboration and support network for all lines companies regarding topics relevant to HR.
Each member can share best practices and lessons, ask for advice, and collaborate with pairs across the motu. Group members can gain insights and knowledge from each other and avoid reinventing the wheel on projects and strategies. The group can act as a sounding board to ENA, to give feedback and advice on key pieces of ENA-led work that effects human resources and workforce within lines companies.
The group meets four times per year. All meetings take place in person in Wellington. The group can also communicate (via email) on an adhoc basis when needed.
All documents including meeting agendas, presentations and reports will be created and held within the group. The Co-chairs manage the list of participants. If you are from a lines company and would like to join the group, please email info@electricity.org.nz and we will put you in touch with the co-chairs.
The Tree Regulations Working Group strives to:
The group communicates (via email) and meets on an adhoc basis when needed.
All documents including meeting agendas, presentations and reports will be sent via email and stored in ENA’s internal Sharepoint.
ENA manages the list of participants. If you are from a lines company and would like to join the group, please email info@electricity.org.nz
There have been various ‘vegetation management’ groups set up since 2009 to tackle challenges, in particular, the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003. As of July 2022, we combined the following Tree Regs-related groups under the banner of the Tree Regs Working Group:
We have had other working groups in the past. And if a particular topic needs to be addressed in our sector, and they don’t fit into one of the groups above, we may be able to form ad hoc groups.