Connection charge reconciliation explainer

The connection charge reconciliation explains how a quoted charge is presented under a standard regulatory framework — it does not determine or change the charge.

What is the connection charge reconciliation?

The reconciliation is a standardised explanation of how your connection charge compares to:

  • the direct cost of connecting you
  • your share of wider network costs
  • the expected future network revenue from your connection.

 

It helps answer the question: “Am I paying more, less, or about the same as the long-term cost of connecting me?”

It is designed for transparency — not to change your quote.

What the reconciliation is:

  • a transparency document
  • prepared in a nationally consistent format
  • required by regulation.

 

And what it is not:

  • a second invoice
  • a replacement for your quote
  • a pricing decision
  • a recalculation of your price

 

Think of it as a translation tool: it takes your quoted charge and maps it into standard regulatory categories so customers, regulators and distributors can all look at connection pricing in a consistent way.

 

Why is it so complex?

The reconciliation uses:

  • standard terminology that is required by regulation
  • standard categories that apply across all distributors
  • financial concepts designed for consistency, not simplicity.

 

This means it can look technical — especially compared to a quote. That’s why this explainer exists.

If you would like further help understanding it, please check out the FAQs or get in touch with your lines company.

More detail about the terms and calculations

How to read your connection charge reconciliation

How to read your connection charge reconciliation

The headline number: ‘Connection Charge (CC)’

What it is:

This is the connection charge you were quoted.


What it is not

  • newly calculated in this document
  • changed by this document

 

The reconciliation starts with your quoted charge and then explains how it is represented in the regulatory framework.

 

The main reconciliation relationship 

In the reconciliation, you may see a formula that looks like this:

Infographic showing your connections charge equals incremental cost plus network cost contribution minus incremental revenue

This is not how your price was set. It is a way of explaining how the following things are shown together for transparency:

  • the costs of connecting you,
  • the revenue expected from your connection over time, and
  • your contribution to shared network costs, including capacity.

 

Each of these terms is explained below.

 

Incremental Cost (IC) – What it costs to connect you

Incremental cost represents the direct costs incurred to provide your connection, based on the minimum scheme. It is the regulated way of describing what it costs to connect you and support your demand on the electricity network.

It can include:

Extension Cost (EC)

The cost of building the physical assets needed to connect you (for example, lines, cables or transformers), based on the lowest-cost technically acceptable solution.

Customer-Selected Enhancements (CSE)

Any additional features you chose beyond the minimum scheme (for example, higher capacity or redundancy). If you didn’t request enhancements, this will be zero.

Network Capacity Cost (NCC)

Your share of the cost of adding capacity to the wider network so it can support your connection. This reflects that electricity networks are shared systems.

Incremental Transmission Cost (ITC)

Any additional costs associated with the national transmission system (if applicable).

Localised Historical Cost Recovery (LHCR)

In limited cases, an adjustment reflecting past network investment in a specific location.

Operating Cost Loading (OCL)

An allowance for additional operating costs. This typically applies only to certain non-standard connections.

 

Incremental Revenue (IR) – Revenue expected over time

Incremental revenue represents the network revenue we expect to receive from your connection over time, including:

Incremental Distribution Revenue (IDR)

Revenue from distribution charges you are expected to pay as part of your power bill.

Incremental Transmission Revenue (ITR)

Revenue associated with national transmission charges (where relevant).

Because this revenue is received over many years, it is shown using Net Present Value (NPV) — meaning future revenue is converted into a ’today value’ so it can be compared fairly with upfront costs. Please refer to the NPV explanations below for more on NPV calculations.

This does not mean you are being charged revenue. It is an explanatory comparison only.

 

Network Cost Contribution (NC) – Your contribution to shared network costs

This term reflects how your connection contributes to the cost of the wider shared network.

It helps show:

  • that some network assets are shared by many customers, and
  • how costs are spread fairly over time.

 

Revenue calculation – explained

Revenue calculation – explained

Why does my connection reconciliation include an ‘revenue’/‘NPV’ calculation?

When you connect to the electricity network, you usually:

  • pay an upfront connection charge, and
  • pay ongoing network charges as part of your power bill over many years.

 

The reconciliation compares these together to see whether your connection is paying its fair share over time.

To do that, we use something called Net Present Value (NPV, or PV).

 

What does 'Net Present Value' mean?

Money received in the future is worth less than money received today. For example, $1,000 today is worth more than $1,000 spread out over the next 10–20 years.

An NPV calculation adjusts future amounts into today's value so they can be compared fairly with upfront costs.

 

Why is NPV used in connection pricing?

When you connect:

  • We incur costs now (to build and upgrade the network).
  • We receive revenue from you over time through ongoing network charges.

 

The NPV calculation helps answer this question: If we look at everything over time, is the connection broadly covering its fair share of costs?

It brings upfront costs and future network revenue into the same 'today value' terms.

 

The revenue tables – why are there so many numbers?

The year-by-year tables show:

  • forecast electricity usage
  • forecast network charges
  • how revenue is expected to change over time.

 

These tables are required by regulation to support transparency and consistency.

You do not need to validate or recalculate these figures. They are estimates used solely for the reconciliation disclosure.

 

Does this change what I pay?

No. The NPV calculation is part of a regulatory transparency requirement. It:

  • does not automatically change your quote
  • does not create an additional charge
  • is not something you need to calculate yourself.

It simply explains how your connection charge compares to the long-term cost of serving your connection.

 

Why is this helpful?

It helps ensure:

  • new connections are not unfairly subsidised by existing customers
  • new customers are not charged disproportionately high amounts
  • pricing is transparent and consistent across New Zealand.