Dates:
Tuesday 11 November and Wednesday 12 November.
Where:
Chancellor 1 Room, James Cook Hotel, 147 The Terrace, Wellington Central.
There is also the option to attend this event online via Teams.
Register
Register here. Please note that in-person registration will be limited and may sell out.
Agenda: 11 November 2025
As we are still finalising the agenda, there is a chance it will be tweaked slightly.
| Time | Title/description | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Registration and morning tea (30 min) | |
| 10:00 - 10:25 | Opening karakia and welcome from the FNF Co-Chairs, and an update on FNF progress (25 min) | FNF Co-Chairs James Tipping GM Market Strategy & Regulation, Vector Andrew Kerr Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, Alpine Energy |
| 10:25 - 10:35 | ENA update (10 min) | Richard Le Gros Policy & Innovation Manager, ENA |
| 10:35 – 11:15 | A bird’s eye view on EECA’s latest work to empower energy users and help build a smarter grid (40 mins) New Zealand’s electricity distribution businesses are at the front line of big changes in how we use and manage energy. EECA Chief Executive, Dr Marcos Pelenur, will talk about how EECA’s work in smart, flexible energy systems and new efficient technologies is progressing to help tackle current supply and affordability pressures and make the most of new innovations. The session will cover EECA’s latest analysis, progress on key work programmes – across residential, transport, and industry, and the agency's response to tightening gas supply. |
Dr Marcos Pelenur Chief Executive, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) |
| 11:15-11:55 | SmartCo’s journey: shared services with smart decisions (40 mins) SmartCo, as a shared services organisation working collaboratively with EDBs, is driving scalable, data-led innovation. In this presentation, they’ll share how their collective approach helps EDBs unlock the full potential of data before committing to costly infrastructure or technology investments. They’ll showcase the evolution of their capacity mapping capabilities — now identifying and tracking network congestion in real time to inform smarter, more targeted investment decisions. This session will also explore how SmartCo and EDBs are maximising value from existing datasets to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and build a foundation for future flexibility. Finally, they’ll look ahead to the next phase of metering innovation, discussing how AMI2 can enable consumer-facing workflows and support the DSO transition through shared platforms. |
Guy Marquet Chief Executive, SmartCo Ryan Gilmour Solution Engineer, SmartCo |
| 11:55 - 12:50 | Lunch (55 min) | |
| 12:50 – 14:10 | Transpower’s Te Kanapu program workshop (1hr 20 mins) Transpower’s Te Kanapu initiative is bringing together ideas from across Aotearoa to develop a future grid blueprint. Transpower needs to understand how Aotearoa might look in 2050 to ensure there’s time to plan and build the national electricity grid needed to deliver that future. A key input into this work is stakeholder insights and industry perspectives to understand the structure of the energy system in 2050 across different scenarios. Come and hear the latest from Transpower as the Te Kanapu initiative is taking shape and contribute your insights into the role of demand side flexibility and consumer energy sources. This is an interactive workshop based on Transpower’s potential scenarios consultation. |
Tania Lund Programme Director – Future Grid, Transpower Tyler Byers Senior Strategy Analyst, Transpower |
| 14:10 – 15:00 | Integrating non-traditional solutions in network development: insights from Australia (50 mins) Drawing on extensive experience in regulatory frameworks and investment assessment for network infrastructure, Ann Whitfield will explore the practicalities of assessing and implementing non-traditional solutions (such as through the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution, or RIT-D). The presentation will also share examples of successes in Australia and highlight lessons that could be applied in the New Zealand context. |
Ann Whitfield Partner, Housten Kemp |
| 15:00- 15:30 | Stretch break and afternoon tea (30 min) | |
| 15:30- 16:30 | Connecting large distributed generation: challenges and opportunities (1hr) This panel discussion brings together a range of perspectives on the evolving landscape of large, distributed generation (DG) connections. Speakers will share insights on connecting to EDB networks, scaling projects, and exploring innovative and dynamic connection models. The discussion will also cover lessons learned from navigating the connection process while supporting local communities, approaches to managing connection applications, and enabling future generation opportunities. Panellists will reflect on how the growing presence of DG is shaping network planning and resilience, and explore future opportunities for collaboration between developers, EDBs, and other stakeholders. |
Facilitator Rachel Wansbone General Manager Customer & Operational Excellence, Northpower Panellists Northpower Lodestone Energy Top Energy Pacific Power Resources Lightyears Solar |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | EA insights from their network visibility consult (30 mins) In this session, you'll get an update on the EAs network visibility project – post workshop and summary of submissions |
Gary White Principal Analyst, Electricity Authority |
| 17:00 – 17:30 | Spotlight on Innovation: Energy Transition and Network Transformation (30 min) This 30-minute session features 5 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? |
TBC |
| 17:30- 17:45 | Wrap-up and closing karakia from the FNF Co-Chairs (15 min) | FNF Co-Chairs James Tipping GM Market Strategy & Regulation, Vector Andrew Kerr Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, Alpine Energy |
| 17:45 | Event close and social catch-up at the nearby bar and eatery Two Grey |
Organisations in attendance for 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
- FlexForum
Agenda: 12 November 2025
As we are still finalising the agenda, there is a chance it will be tweaked slightly.
| Time | Title/description | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 08:50 | Registration (20 min) | |
| 08:50 – 09:05 | Opening karakia and welcome (15 min) | FNF Co-Chairs James Tipping GM Market Strategy & Regulation, Vector Andrew Kerr Chief Customer & Strategy Officer, Alpine Energy |
| 09:05 – 09:25 | Reflections on yesterday (20 min) This interactive session invites attendees to reflect on key takeaways from yesterday’s discussions. What’s the one insight, idea, or action you’ll take back to your EDB? Join us as we share reflections, highlight common themes, and surface what’s resonating across the sector. |
FNF Co-Chairs |
| 09:25 – 10:45 | FNF residential customer segmentation project (1hr 20 mins) ENA’s Future Networks Forum has engaged Insights HQ to build a national residential segmentation model combining electricity usage and 2023 Census data. The model provides EDBs with deeper insights into household energy use, affordability, and adoption of technologies like solar, EVs, and home energy management systems. This presentation will share key findings from the 2025 update and discuss how these insights can help networks better understand and engage with their customers. |
Anca Cernic Customer Insights Manager, Vector |
| 10:45 – 11:05 | Morning tea (20 min) | |
| 11:05 – 11:45 | FNF project updates: policies, maps, and contracts for the EDB Sector (40 mins) Richard Le Gros will provide forum attendees with an update on the status and intended outputs of the following FNF projects: 1. Connection and queue management policy This FNF project has engaged Concept Consulting to deliver a queue management policy for the EDB sector, as required by recent Electricity Authority decisions. 2. Network capacity visibility This FNF project has been tasked with producing a report with recommendations for EDBs when developing network visibility tools to support access-seekers in obtaining information on distribution network capacity. 3. Aligning commercial contracts This FNF project is working with Simpson Grierson to develop a set of template commercial contracts for adoption and use by EDBs in their agreements with large load and distribution generation customers. 4. EDB common load management protocol This FNF project is working closely with stakeholders (EDBs, Traders, MEPS) to develop a common (i.e. industry standard) load management protocol. The aim is to have the protocol agreed and adopted between EDBs and Traders, as required by the Code. |
Richard Le Gros Policy & Innovation Manager, ENA |
| 11:45 – 12:25 | Powerco's innovation allowance project findings (40 mins) Powerco will present on findings for two projects progressed using DPP3 innovation allowance. Firstly, Carl de Haan and Maria McInerney will outline the first phases of the satellite-based intelligent vegetation management trial. An initial AI model was set up and refined to work with satellite imagery across 748 feeders to support data-driven planning and prioritisation of vegetation management. The technology classifies vegetation, automates priorities for trimming, optimises spend, and can model business strategy options. Secondly, Waseem Awan, Andrew Jarman, and Danneilea Richardson will outline technology tested to monitor and predict damage to conductors from aeolian vibration. Ten line guard vibration monitoring devices (and accompanying weather stations) were installed and trialled to test capability of this technology to highlight potential conductor fatigue and then be proactively addressed. |
Carl de Haan Engineering Reliability Manager, Powerco Maria McInerney Strategic Vegetation Manager, Powerco Waseem Awan Asset Engineer Overhead Network, Powerco Andrew Jarman Senior Asset Engineer, Powerco Danneilea Richardson Electricity Line Designer, Powerco |
| 12:25 – 12:50 | TBC | TBC |
| 12:50 - 13:10 | Wrap-up and closing karakia (20 min) | FNF Co-Chairs |
| 13:10 - 14:10 | Lunch (60 min) |
Organisations in attendance for day two
- Electricity Distribution Businesses
- Electricity Engineers’ Association
- Transpower