New simple connection
After we review your application, we’ll let you know if it is a simple connection. A simple connection only requires a quote and does not need a Vector easement. It usually takes around 6 to 8 weeks to complete. For an overview of the connections process and what to expect along the way, take a look at our Connections Journey guide here.
If you need both gas and electricity connections, please request them separately here.
Please be aware of holiday period scheduling: New connections work submitted from 16 October 2026 is likely to be scheduled in the new year. See our Christmas and New Year shutdown information and service cut-off dates here.
Holiday period scheduling informationApply for a simple connection
Please fill out the below application to start the connection process
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Pricing
When you add a new connection or upgrade an existing connection on the electricity network, you will pay:
- An assessment fee – this covers the administration costs of assessing your application and preparing your connection quote.
- The cost of the lowest-cost connection design – this covers the work needed to connect your property or upgrade your existing connection, based on the lowest-cost design that meets Vector’s network standards.
- Any customer-selected enhancements – these are optional enhancements you request above the lowest-cost design and will be shown separately in your quote. For example, this could include requesting a power pole to be removed.
Connection Fee | Development contribution | Assessment fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Pricing effective from 1 April 2026 (Incl. GST) | |||
Priced per job | See table below | $300 | Priced per job |
Development contribution
Network Tier | Connection type | Amount ($ per ICP) | Rate ($ per installed kVA) |
|---|---|---|---|
Pricing effective from 1 April 2026 (Incl. GST) | |||
Low voltage mains | Residential 0 - 14kVA Residential 15 - 69kVA SME 14 - 28kVA SME 29 - 42kVA SME 43 - 69kVA Other low voltage mains | $3,193 $5,339 $3,703 $7,478 $15,274 | $264.50 |
Distribution substation | Priced per job | ||
High voltage feeder | Priced per job | ||
Zone substation | Priced per job | ||
Sub-transmission line | Priced per job | ||
Civil work and traffic management
New electricity connections may require civil work and/or traffic management. You have the option to organise this yourself, using appropriately qualified providers who can meet the relevant standards and requirements. Alternatively, we can arrange it for you through our service providers. We are happy to talk through the options with you during the assessment of your connection request.
For some complex works that involve critical network infrastructure, we may need to use our specialist contractors to complete parts of the civil work. This ensures the safety and integrity of the network. Where this applies, you cannot, unfortunately, organise those specific aspects independently. If this is the case, we will let you know during the connection process.
If you choose to organise your own civil works, Vector will need to carry out quality assurance inspections to ensure those works meet the necessary safety and network requirements. A fee applies for this inspection process, which we’ll discuss and confirm with you as part of your connection costs.
Assessment fee
Before we can provide you with a formal quote, we need to assess your connection application. There is an upfront, non-refundable assessment fee of $300 for this work. You can request an alternative quote if you would like to explore another connection option. A separate assessment fee applies for each quote you request.
Refunds
Sometimes the work may cost less than we originally quoted, for example if fewer traffic management days are needed. If this happens, we’ll refund you the difference once the work is complete.
How development contributions relate to network capacity
When you connect to the network or upgrade your connection, you use some of the network’s available capacity.
The network capacity cost is the estimated cost of providing the shared network capacity used or added to support your connection. Your development contribution is the amount you are asked to contribute towards this cost and may be less than the full network capacity cost.
Our approach is that customers creating growth on the network should contribute towards the investment needed to support that growth. How these costs are shared is subject to electricity industry regulation.
For more information about development contributions, network capacity costs and how these are changing, see our FAQs below.
Network Tier | Posted capacity rates ($ excl. GST per diversified kVA) For information purposes only | Nominal incremental capacity (installed kVA) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st April 2026 | 1st April 2027 | 1st April 2028 | 1st April 2029 | 1st April 2030 | ||
Low voltage mains | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Distribution substation | $176.67 | $180.62 | $185.12 | $189.95 | $195.02 | 687,891 |
High voltage feeder | $715.89 | $731.92 | $750.15 | $769.72 | $790.28 | 321,650 |
Zone substation | $330.38 | $337.78 | $346.19 | $355.22 | $364.71 | 1,427,250 |
Sub-transmission line | $370.74 | $379.05 | $388.49 | $398.62 | $409.27 | 625,250 |
Pioneer schemes
A pioneer scheme helps make sure the cost of new electricity infrastructure is shared fairly.
If you’re the first customer to pay for a qualifying network extension, you may receive a refund if other customers later connect to and use that same infrastructure in the future.
Likewise, if you connect later and benefit from infrastructure someone else helped fund, you may need to contribute to these costs.
If a pioneer scheme is relevant to your connection, we will explain this clearly as part of your quote.
The table below shows the pioneer schemes that are currently active:
Pioneer reference | Location | Start date | End Date | Opening value ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
There is currently no active Pioneer scheme in place | ||||
Our process
The process and timeframes may vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- Whether an existing network connection supply point is available
- The type of network connection supply point required, which depends on the available capacity
- The number of connections you require and whether these are temporary or permanent
- The available capacity as well as fuse and phase requirements (your electrician will provide these details)
- The size of the current job queue for new connections
- The conditions of the work site and the complexity of the job
- When traffic management services are next available (as these are managed by third parties) and the availability of equipment required
- Other technical, legal, regulatory and administrative factors (including resource constraints)
Initiate | Request a new connection here or ring our call centre on 0508 832 867 |
|---|---|
Design | We will review your application and contact you if further information is required. Pay the assessment fee online within 20 working days |
Quote and payment | You will usually be supplied with a quote including terms and conditions within 7 working days. Pay the quote online with a credit card or through a bank transfer within 35 working days before the quote expires. |
Build and variations | Connection is generally completed 40 working days after payment has been received. Final reinstatement is usually completed within 10 working days after the new connection is supplied. |
Completion | When you are ready to liven your connection click here. For subdivisions, we will email you a Certificate of Completion, which you can forward to Auckland Council to apply for a 224C subdivision certificate. |
Please be aware of holiday period scheduling: New connections work submitted from 16 October 2026 is likely to be scheduled in the new year. See our Christmas and New Year shutdown information and service cut-off dates here.
FAQs
A standard connection (sometimes referred to as a simple connection) is a connection that can usually be completed using established network processes and doesn't require complex network upgrades or additional legal arrangements, such as easements.
Once we've assessed your application, we'll let you know what type of connection is required. If your application is classified as a simple or standard connection, we'll provide a quote and guide you through the next steps. These connections can often be completed within approximately six to eight weeks.
Please apply as soon as you can, as this allows us more time to get ready to connect you. We encourage you to discuss your electricity connection requirements with a registered electrician prior to requesting a new connection.
The information we need will depend on the type of connection you're applying for and your specific circumstances.
When you apply, we'll usually ask for details such as
- the property address
- site or building plans
- the type of connection you need
- when you'll need power connected
- how the property will use electricity
Once we've reviewed your application, we'll let you know if we need any additional information and guide you through the next steps.
If that happens, we'll evaluate the impact on costs and timeframes and confirm whether there are any price adjustments. In the event there are price adjustments, we'll provide you with an updated quotation. If there's additional costs as a result of a change in requirements, all work will stop until you have agreed to and paid for the additional costs.
If a quote is not paid within 55 working days, we'll close your application. If you'd like to proceed with the work after the quote has expired, please apply for a new connection and we will re-issue another quote. This is because material prices or site conditions may have changed since the original quote was issued.
If you’ve accepted the quote and Vector has had to do work on your behalf, i.e. begun digging a trench, and you then decide to cancel, you’ll be refunded less reasonable costs incurred.
If your job requirements change, we will supply a new design and corresponding quote.
For new connections, your electrician can install the service cable on your property and run it to the connection point on Vector's network equipment, such as a service pit, service pillar, link pillar, or transformer. However, the final connection to Vector's network must be completed by a Vector-approved contractor or livening inspector.
Your electricity retailer will also need to arrange for your meter to be installed before the connection can be livened. For safety reasons, customers and their electricians must not access or work on Vector-owned network equipment.
Ongoing charges depend on the type and size of your connection.
For larger connections, some charges may be based on the amount of network capacity you've requested, rather than how much electricity you use straight away. These charges generally apply from the date your connection is livened.
This means that if your electricity use is lower while your site is getting established, your charges may still be based on the capacity that has been made available for your connection.
We'll explain any applicable charges as part of the connection process.
We'll send you a tax invoice for the price once payment has been received.
There are several factors, including:
- The number of jobs currently in our queue
- We are reliant on third parties for traffic management and equipment supply
Your electricity retailer is responsible for the meter, please discuss the meter position and clearance requirements with them.
If you hit a fibre cable, please call us immediately on 0800 826 436 (select option 1, then select option 2 for Vector Fibre).
A network capacity cost is the estimated cost of providing the shared network capacity used or added to support your new or upgraded connection. This includes infrastructure such as cables, transformers and substations that are shared by many customers.
Your development contribution is the amount you are asked to contribute towards this network capacity cost as part of your connection charge. Your development contribution may be less than the full network capacity cost.
When you connect to the network or upgrade your connection, you use some of the network’s available capacity.
Our approach is that customers creating growth on the network should contribute towards the investment needed to support that growth. This helps ensure there is enough capacity for new homes and businesses to connect as Auckland grows.
Electricity connection charging is subject to electricity industry regulation. This helps ensure the share of network costs paid by new and upgrading customers is appropriate and consistent with how similar connections are treated.
In the future, more network growth may also come from existing customers using more electricity, such as by charging electric vehicles or electrifying their homes and businesses.
Between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, development contributions will continue to be used to recover a share of network capacity costs, using an approach that is broadly in line with our current method.
From 1 April 2027, new Electricity Authority requirements will change how network capacity costs are calculated.
Before 1 April 2027, we will test the rates and information used to calculate them and make any necessary adjustments. This means the final rates that will apply from 1 April 2027 have not yet been confirmed. We will publish them once they are available.
Yes, Vector is the electricity network provider for much of Auckland, which means we own and maintain the local network that delivers electricity to your property. We don't sell electricity or send power bills directly to customers. Once your property is connected, you can choose or change your electricity retailer at any time. Your new retailer will usually arrange the switch on your behalf. If you need to update billing details, contact your electricity retailer directly. Changing retailers won't affect your connection to the network.
The Point of Supply (POS) is the point where Vector's electricity network connects to your property. It marks the boundary between the equipment owned and maintained by Vector and the equipment owned by the property owner.
The location of the POS varies depending on the type of connection. For underground connections it's often at a service pit or pillar near the property boundary. If a suitable POS doesn't already exist, one may need to be installed as part of your connection.
Flexible connections provide an alternative means for enabling customers access to network load and export capacity without requiring significant network reinforcements. Flexible connections enable quicker and more affordable access to import and export connections. This is the result of utilising the existing spare capacity already available on the existing network infrastructure rather than increasing capacity through network build.
For some customers, this could include reducing electricity use during peak demand periods, such as EV charging, fleet charging, battery storage or some industrial equipment.
Flexible connection arrangements may help reduce connection or ongoing costs. If you're planning a new connection, talk to us about your requirements at flexibility.opportunities@vector.co.nz and we'll let you know whether flexible options are available. Some electricity retailers may also offer plans that reward you for using electricity at off peak periods times, such as controlled hot water or time-of-use plans.