Connect your distributed power generation

Flexible export connections coming 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, Vector will introduce flexible exports. This will allow you to export up to 10kW of solar generation for single phase connections given your inverter is compliant with New Zealand standard, AS/NZS 4777.2 and capable of CSIP.

This new approach is designed to enable more solar exports from a greater number of our Distributed Generation (DG) customers across the network, for more of the time, whilst continuing to keep the network safe and stable.

For more information, please see our FAQs below under useful links.

Distributed power generation refers to a variety of technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines and bi-directional electric vehicle charging e.g. vehicle-to-grid (V2G) that generate electricity and are:

• Connected, or proposed to be connected, to our network; and
• Capable of injecting electricity into our distribution network.

Usually, when excess electricity is not used, it is passed back into the electricity network. This has a wide range of implications, including safety, network performance, service quality, investment in the network and commercial agreements.

The allowable voltage operating range at the customer point of connection has now been expanded to 230V +/- 10%.

What does this mean for distributed generation?

The settings specified for all systems before these changes have a voltage response which will curtail and even disconnect the inverter within the normal operating range of the expanded voltage band.

As such we recommend that all existing installations update their voltage settings to ASNZS4777.2:2020  ‘Australia A’. Similarly all new installations should also use the ASNZS4777.2:2020 ‘Australia A’ settings. If the system has a secondary protection device (typically for legacy installations of 30kW+), these settings will also need to be updated. We are in the process of updating our standards to reflect these changes.

Therefore, you must let us know when you are:

• Connecting this type of power generation technology to our network
• Increasing the capacity of an existing power generating system
• Removing an existing power generation system from our network.

If your generation is to be connected to Vector’s network, then it must comply with our requirements.

Distributed generation is governed by the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 (the Code). The code sets out the rules for how you make an application to connect distributed generation to our network, how we process this application and your rights along the way.

The types of applications are for: