This opinion piece was published in the Newsroom on 6 May 2026.
View it here.
Electricity Networks Aotearoa warns no household should be left behind in reinventing our power networks for a more affordable, electrified future.
New Zealand’s electricity system is becoming smarter, more digital and more flexible. That should be good news for households.
But it also reveals an uncomfortable truth: If the system becomes too expensive, too complicated, or too hard to understand, many people will not be able to take part.
Research commissioned by Electricity Networks Aotearoa points to that challenge. It shows strong consumer interest in electricity technology, but much lower uptake.
While 48 percent of respondents said they were interested in solar panels and 44 percent were interested in battery storage, only 11 percent and 6 percent respectively say they own them. That may overstate actual uptake: Electricity Authority data suggests solar is installed on closer to 3 percent of New Zealand households.
Even though 78 percent of households say they already pay close attention to their electricity use, many feel they have hit a limit. Nearly half, 45 percent, believe there is not much more they can do to reduce their bills without investing in technology. Cost remains the top barrier, cited by 44 percent, followed by lack of confidence and complexity.
There is also a more basic problem. Many people are still unsure who does what in the electricity system, including the difference between lines companies, retailers and generators. That matters, because it is hard for households to make good choices in a system they do not understand.
A smarter system needs people to take part
The risk is a two-speed electricity future. Solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles and smart appliances can all help households reduce costs and help the wider network operate more efficiently. But only if people can access them.
If the benefits flow mainly to households that can afford the upfront investment, others may be left with fewer choices and less ability to manage their bills.
This is not just an equity issue. It is a system issue.
A flexible, lower-emissions electricity system depends on widespread participation. If only a small group of consumers can shift demand, install technology, or respond to price signals, the system will not work as efficiently as it could.
Where lines companies fit
Local lines companies have a practical role in making this easier. They do not sell electricity to households. Their job is to maintain and operate the local networks — the poles, wires, transformers and other equipment that deliver power to homes and businesses.
That role is changing. Networks were largely built for electricity to flow one way, from large generators through the grid and into homes. Increasingly, electricity needs to move in more than one direction. A home with rooftop solar may send power back into the network. An EV charger may add significant demand at certain times of day. A battery may help a household store electricity and use it later.
That means the local network has to become more flexible too. Across the country, lines companies are working on several parts of that shift.
Some of the work is physical: upgrading transformers, cables and control systems so networks can cope with more electric vehicles, more rooftop solar, more batteries and more demand at peak times.
Some of it is about information. Households need clearer signals about when electricity is cheaper to use, when the network is under pressure, and what options are available to them. Lines companies, retailers and technology providers all have a role in making that information useful rather than overwhelming.
Connection processes also need to be simpler. If a household or business wants to install solar, batteries or other small-scale generation, the process should be clear, timely and consistent. Pricing also needs to better reflect when electricity is used, so customers who can shift demand away from busy periods are rewarded for doing so.
Not every household can buy new technology. Renters, low-income households and people in poor-quality housing may have fewer choices. If the future system depends on participation, it has to include options for people who cannot afford large upfront investments.
The final piece is trust. Communities need to know what investment is being made, why it is needed, and how it will affect bills over time.
The work is already beginning
Lines companies are trialling smart EV charging to ease pressure at peak times, upgrading equipment to better manage rooftop solar and batteries, and simplifying connection processes for small-scale generation. Others are preparing for rising EV demand and working with communities on hardship and energy support.
At a national level, the challenge is to share what works and make it easier for households to understand their options, wherever they live.
Making the future usable
The bottom line is that technology alone will not solve the problem.
New Zealand is at a turning point. A more digital, consumer-powered electricity system is within reach. But it will only work if it is built around people, not just devices.
That means making new technology more affordable where it is useful, making systems simpler to navigate, and being honest about the households that will need extra support.
Lines companies have a central role to play, but this is a job for the whole energy sector. Retailers, regulators, technology providers, government, community organisations and consumers all have a part in making the system work.
Done well, the result should be lower emissions, fairer bills, more choice for consumers and a more resilient grid.
The test of a smarter electricity system is not how advanced the technology becomes. It is whether ordinary households can use it, understand it, and benefit from it.
Tracey Kai, Chief Executive of ENA