Electricity Authority Marks One Year Of Supporting Innovation With Power Innovation Pathway Insights Report

The Electricity Authority has today released its one-year insights report on the Power Innovation Pathway, which drives innovation in the electricity sector to deliver better outcomes for New Zealanders.

"The Power Innovation Pathway is helping transform energy regulation in Aotearoa. It directly addresses the opportunities and challenges of our rapidly evolving electricity system," says Electricity Authority Chief Executive Sarah Gillies.

"The Pathway helps us understand where the rules and regulations might hold back innovation, and how we can help reduce barriers and unlock value, which will ultimately benefit all Kiwis."

The Authority set up the Pathway a year ago to help bring new ideas to market faster and support innovators to navigate electricity regulations. Today, the Pathway has helped over 80 innovators, and provided tailored support to eight high-value initiatives that could be scaled for the benefit of electricity consumers.

Importantly, the Pathway has identified opportunities to improve regulation to further support innovation and strengthen the electricity system.

"Insights from the Pathway are shaping the Authority’s work programme, enabling more effective and adaptive regulation that supports a secure, affordable electricity system, now and in future."

Today’s report shares insights from innovators and actions the Authority is taking to address them, including:

• Supporting new ways of regulating a rapidly evolving electricity sector, including exploring regulatory sandboxing, expanding the Pathway’s service offering, and using innovator insights to inform its policy work, such as scoping a new flexibility work programme.
• Working more closely with other electricity regulators, including the Commerce Commission and EECA, to identify and remove barriers.
• Accelerating key work programmes that enable innovation, such as its Consumer Mobility and Future Networks programmes.
• Exploring more open and inclusive consultation approaches, including increasing access to verbal submissions, surveys and wānanga.

"We are excited about the year ahead - engaging with more innovators and taking bold and transformative action to test our approach to regulation and drive innovation across the energy sector."

The Power Innovation Pathway is open year-round for general regulatory support. For innovators seeking tailored support, applications for an enhanced support programme are open until 31 October 2025. For more information, visit www.ea.govt.nz/industry/power-innovation-pathway/

Notes:

In September 2024, the Electricity Authority launched the Power Innovation Pathway to accelerate innovation in New Zealand’s electricity sector to improve long-term outcomes for consumers and communities across Aotearoa.

The Pathway provides innovators with easier, more efficient access to regulatory information and support to enable them to bring new ideas to market faster. It also builds the Authority’s understanding of emerging opportunities and barriers, to enable more effective and adaptive regulation.

In its first year, the Pathway helped over 80 innovators navigate the electricity sector’s regulatory landscape. It selected eight high-value initiatives from 44 applications to join its first enhanced regulatory support programme. These initiatives strongly aligned with the Authority’s strategic outcomes and have the potential to reduce regulatory barriers for all participants, unlocking value for the electricity system and consumers.

Applications for the Pathway’s second enhanced support programme for tailored support and regulatory guidance are open from 29 September to 31 October.

The Pathway is an ongoing initiative and applications for general regulatory support are open year-round.

More information at: www.ea.govt.nz/industry/power-innovation-pathway/

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