Words we use

Approved or authorised contractor
An electrical or gas contractor approved by us to carry out work on our network(s). 

Asset
Equipment or plant that is part of the electricity distribution network. 

Cable 
Underground electricity conductor.

Cap cons
Capital Contributions are payments you make toward the costs of new connections and upgrades. They are advised during the connection application process by us (the network company).

Certificate of Compliance
Registered electrical workers must audit their own work and fill out a certificate of compliance as proof that they have complied with electrical safety standards and codes. You should request the COC from your electrical contractor when work is completed. We will need to see the COC before we can connect the electrical installation to our network. 

Certificate of Verification
A Certificate of Verification (CoV) is provided by electricians or electrical inspectors to confirm that a property is safe to be connected to our network.

You’ll need to be issued with a CoV when: Your service line or internal wiring has had work done on it.

If your property has been disconnected for six months or more. You’ll need to organise an electrician or an electrical inspector to check your wiring before you can be reconnected.

Circuit
A circuit connects two pieces of electrical equipment. 

COC
Certificate Of Compliance provided by electricians or electrical inspectors when work is completed. 

Code (the Code)
Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 is the set of rules that governs nearly every aspect of the electricity industry and may be the basis of rules, practices and requirements our network or retailers have e.g. for connections or metering. 

Conductor
Overhead lines which can be covered (insulated) or bare (not insulated), and underground cables which are insulated. Both are used to convey electricity.

Connection
A point at which the electricity network connects to your electrical system.

Consultant
In the context of new connections or upgrades to existing connections, a consultant is any person or organisation who you engage to advise on the design and/or construction of a new connection or an upgrade to an existing connection. A consultant may also facilitate the design, application or upgrade of the connection. 

Consumer
An electricity user. 

Consumer energy resource
These are resources/ equipment owned by you that can generate, store or change when they use energy (e.g. solar PV, batteries, EVs) and thus help the energy system operate more efficiently. 

Consumption
Use of electricity measured as the electrical energy consumed by a 1,000 watt (1 kilowatt) appliance in an hour is one kilowatt-hour (kWh). A kilowatt hour is also known as a 'unit of electricity' and is the unit in which retail sales of electricity are measured. 

Controllable load or controlled supply
The electrical water heating load which we are able to switch off for short periods when the electrical loading on our network is high, or when faults or emergencies happen on our network and which may have a lower tariff for supply. The remaining supply to the household can’t be turned off by us and is known as uncontrolled supply – the uncontrolled supply is charged at a higher rate.

Customer
A person whose premises, equipment or generation are connected to our network and who receives or exports electricity through our network. 

Delivery
Electricity conveyed over both our network and also Transpower's transmission grid (i.e. both 'transmission' and 'distribution'). 

Demand response
This is where your demand changes in response to instructions or price signals from the electricity system to balance supply. The word demand response is normally applied to your changes in demand following a specific signal or request rather than regular changes arising from time of use or other recurring tariffs. 

Demand side management
This describes the process by which we, retailers, you or service providers may manage your demand through information or price signals or direct control of your devices. 

DER
Distributed Energy Resources. Any resource on the distribution system that produces or stores electricity or load that can be controlled to use electricity at other times. This can include distributed generation, storage, heat pumps and electric vehicles, as well as other technologies. 

Designer
In the context of new connections to our network or upgrades to existing connections, a designer designs the connection or upgrade. Design proposals for a typical simple urban residential connection may be sketched in freehand by any applicant. More complex designs must be drawn and dimensioned with either manual draughting instruments or preferably with CAD technology. All designs must meet our published design standards and any statutory requirements. The designer is responsible for ensuring the final plans meet all design requirements. 

DG
Distributed Generation is generation connected to the distribution network rather than the transmission network. 

Distributed energy resources
Any resource on the distribution system that produces or stores electricity or load that can be controlled to use electricity at other times. This can include distributed generation, storage, heat pumps and electric vehicles, as well as other technologies.  

Distributed generation
When customers who generate their own power (solar, wind, liquid fuel) connect to a distribution network. We’re set up to enable customers who want to connect their distributed generation to our network. Learn more 

Distribution
Electricity conveyed over our network from bulk points of supply (grid exit points) to individual homes and businesses. 

Distribution service charges (also referred to as line charges)
The line charges on your electricity account include the costs we pass on from Transpower, for transmitting electricity from generation points around New Zealand across the National Grid to ‘grid exit points’ (GXPs) in your area. The remainder of the charge covers the cost of distributing electricity from these GXPs, across our network assets to your home or business. The cost of the electricity you use is billed by your electricity retailer. 

Distribution substation
A major building substation and/or switchyard where voltage is transformed from 66 or 33 kilovolts (kV) to 11kV, two or more incoming 11kV feeders from a grid exit point are redistributed or a ripple injection plant is installed. 

Distribution transformer
A device that changes voltage to a higher voltage or a lower voltage. 

Distributor 
Also called lines companies, network companies or distribution companies, distributors own and operate the lower voltage power lines and distribution networks in local areas. These connect to the national grid to deliver electricity to homes and businesses. Learn more

DR
Demand Response is customer demand that changes in response to signals from the electricity system to balance supply Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund. 

DSM
Demand-Side Management is the process by which we (networks), retailers, you or service providers may manage your demand through their services and offerings which may include automated control, information, pricing, rewards or other incentives. 

DT
Distribution Transformer is a transformer on our network.

Earth peg
Ensures electrical faults inside a building go into the ground, keeping people safe from electric shocks. Earth pegs are usually near electricity meters and should not be touched.

Easement
A legal right to use another person’s land. We use easements when putting equipment (such as poles or transformers) on your land (or your neighbour's land). 

Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs)
Electric and magnetic fields are produced by all wiring and appliances that carry or use electricity. We follow international guidelines for exposure to EMFs. EMFs are different from electromagnetic radiation which is produced by things like radios and microwaves. Learn more

Electrical contractor
In the context of new connections or upgrades to existing connections, an electrical contractor is a person or organisation contracted by either you, or your consultant, to install part or all of the works required to achieve the new or upgraded electricity supply. This work generally involves low voltage construction on your property. 

Electrical inspector
An electrical inspector holds an electrical inspector's licence and inspects mains installations prior to livening to see whether the installations comply with relevant regulations and codes of practice. Some inspectors are authorised by various electricity retailers to install meters and ripple signalling equipment on their behalf. Some inspectors are authorised by us to connect
and liven complying installations on our network. 

Electricity distribution business
Often shortened to EDB and also known as a lines company. 

Electricity distribution network
The system of lower voltage power lines, cables and other equipment in a local area that is used to carry electricity from the national grid to homes and businesses. 

Electricity retailer
An electricity retailer (sometimes referred to as a 'power company') purchases electricity from the wholesale market to sell to residential and business users.. Also referred to as Trader or Participant. 

Embedded generator
An embedded generator, also known as a 'distributed generator', is a generator located at a home or business which is capable of generating electricity for that home or business's own use. It may also be capable of putting surplus generation back into our network. 

Embedded network
A network reticulation owned by a third party  within a distributor's traditional network. The Consumer has a choice of Trader.  

Export
Electricity flowing from your electrical system into our network, usually as a result of distributed generation. 

EV
Electric vehicle

Fault
When your power is out. Also known as an outage or a power cut.

Feeder
A feeder is a physical grouping of conductors that originates at a district substation and supplies a number of consumers. 

Fibre optic cable
Fibre optic cables are strands of glass that transmit data with light instead of electricity. By using light, they are able to transmit at much faster speeds. 

Fixed charges
Fixed charges are the same for all customers regardless of how much electricity they use and are typically shown as $/connection/day, applying to each connection.  

Fuse
A safety device that melts when too much electricity goes through it. It cuts off electricity supply quickly to ensure there is no damage to appliances or internal wiring of a building or appliances. 

General connection
Most business and residential connections on our network are classified as 'general connections'. Other categories of connection include major customer connections and some irrigator connections. 

Generator
Equipment/machinery which produces electricity. 'Generator' is also a name sometimes given to generation companies. 

Greenfield land
Greenfield land is undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to evolve naturally. These areas of land are usually agricultural or amenity properties being considered for urban development. 

Grid
Transpower's transmission network of high voltage power lines and tall towers that connects to the power stations to send electricity around the country. It is also referred to as the 'national grid'.

GXP
A point where the local network is connected to Transpower's transmission network and where electricity flows out of the national grid to our network. 

Grid injection point (GIP)
A point of connection where electricity flows into the national grid from generating stations. 

HHR
Half Hour (referring to meters). 

HV
High Voltage which is used to generally refer to transmission power lines. 

ICP
Installation Control Point is the point at which a retailer is deemed to supply electricity to you.  Each ICP is assigned a unique number. ICP numbers are shown on all electricity accounts. 

kV
Kilovolt being 1,000 volts. Voltage is a unit of measure that describes the pressure that pushes electricity and is a function of the electric potential between two points. 

kVA and kVAR
Kilo Volt Amperes is a measure of the apparent power in an electrical circuit and is the product of the circuits maximum current and voltage rating. Kilo Volt Amperes Reactive is a measure of the reactive power e.g. the unused power generated by reactive components in a generator. 

kW
Kilowatt. 1,000 Watts. This is a measure of the amount of power flowing and may also be used to indicate the maximum capacity of a device.  

kWh
A kilowatt-hour is also known as a unit of electricity and is the basis of retail sales (billing) of electricity. Your electricity meter records the amount of electricity you use in kWh (kilowatt hours). A kWh is one kilowatt (kW) of electricity used for one-hour (h). A kWh is equal to 1000 watts used over a one-hour period. For example, 1 kWh = 10 x 100 watt light bulbs burning for
one hour. 

Line
Overhead electricity conductor.

Line charges
The line charges on your electricity account include the costs we pass on from Transpower, for transmitting electricity from generation points around New Zealand across the National Grid to ‘grid exit points’ (GXPs) in your area. The remainder of the charge covers the cost of distributing electricity from these GXPs, across our network assets to your home or business. The cost of the electricity you use is billed by your electricity retailer. 

Liven/livened
When a connection is 'livened', electricity can flow from the electricity distribution network to the connection. 

Livening agent
An electrical or network construction contractor who is authorised by us, based on competence, to connect either the customer's service main, or the network extension, the existing network and liven the installation. 

Load management or control
We may manage load on our network by switching some load off (usually electric hot water heaters) during times of high or 'peak' electrical demand and then turning that load back on when load levels drop. Retailers may also offer services that manage hot water load to reduce peak time energy costs. 

Longest daily shed duration
In the context of 'load management', longest daily shed duration is provided as a measure against our network's service level targets for residential water heating. Under load management, we aim to switch hot water cylinders off for no longer than a target maximum. 

Losses and loss factors
As electricity travels through the national grid and our network, a portion of energy is lost as heat due to the resistance in the lines and transformers. The greater the distance the electricity travels and the lower the voltage on the line, the higher the losses are. The Electricity Authority (EA) requires that we calculate and publish Reconciliation Loss Factor for each loss factor code in the registry each year. Loss factors also include losses energy used by equipment, metering errors and unmetered use. 

LV
Low Voltage refers to the street-level network that delivers power to homes and small businesses. 

Mains installation
The cable or line between our electricity distribution network and your premises. 

Major customer
Networks generally classify businesses with maximum electrical demands above a set level e.g. 300kVA for some networks, as major customer connections. You (or your retailer) may elect to be classified as a major customer connection where the loading level is between set levels e.g. 250kVA and 300kVA in some networks. This compares to the maximum demand of a
typical house of about 10kVA. For major customer connections we apply a specific set of prices that more closely reflects each customer's load and loading patterns.

Maximum demand
The maximum demand for electricity on our network over a year. 

MEP
Metering Equipment Provider is a business that supplies meters. 

Meter
The equipment that monitors your electricity or gas use. This is usually in kilowatt-hours for electricity. 

MVA and MVAR
Mega Volt Amperes is a measure of the apparent power in an electrical circuit and is the product of the circuits maximum current and voltage rating. Mega Volt Amperes Reactive is a measure of the reactive power e.g. the unused power generated by reactive components in a generator. 

MW
Megawatt. One million watts. This is a measure of the amount of power flowing. 

MWh
Megawatt Hours is a measure of energy e.g. the amount of power generated or supplied in hour. 

National Grid
Aotearoa’s high voltage transmission network. The National Grid takes electricity from where it is generated at power stations to distributors like us. Transpower operates the National Grid.

NHH
Non Half Hour (referring to meters that do not support half hour data collection of energy use). 

NCP
Network Connection Point. A point at which the local network connects to a customer's electrical installation. 

Network
Our electrical and gas equipment (such as lines, cables and pipes) that carry energy to you.

Network connection point (NCP)
A point at which the local network connects to your electrical installation. This is usually at your property boundary. It is sometimes on the exterior of a building. You are responsible for the electrical installation on the premises side of the NCP. We are responsible for equipment on the other side of the NCP. 

Network extension
An addition to or enhancement of the existing local network, for example, a new line or cable. 

Network substation
A building substation which is part of the 11kV network and which protects cables and overhead lines. 

Part 6
The section of the Electricity Industry Participation Code (the rules set by the regulator and referred to as "the Code") that governs new connections. 

Pillar (also knowns as gyro, pod or service box)
Pillars connect your service main to our network if you have an underground service cable, rather than an overhead service line. Pillars are usually plastic boxes on the boundary of your property. 

Point of connection (POC)
Point of Connection being the point at which the electricity network connects to your electrical system. 

Point of supply (POS)
Point of Supply generally means the point or points on the boundary of the property at which exclusive fittings (e.g. power lines or circuits) enter that property. 

Powerco-approved contractor
An electrical or gas contractor approved to carry out work on our networks.

Pre-application
The engagement that occurs between us and you before a new connection (Part 6) application is made. 

Pre-application meeting
A meeting that you may request before submitting an application to us to help with that application. 

PV
Photovoltaic(s) and often referred to as solar PV. PV cells convert sunlight into electricity by an energy conversion process.   

RAB
Regulated Asset Base. The value of the assets used in delivering our network services that are regulated services. The Commerce Commission uses the RAB to determine our network's price path.   

Record of Inspection
A Record of Inspection is issued after high-risk prescribed electrical work (such as high voltage installations, photovoltaic systems or mains work) has been checked by an authorised inspector and confirmed to be safe. 

RESI
Refers to Residential generally describing a customer's home connection to the local network. 

Retailer
A company that sells electricity or gas to you. Your retailer monitors how much energy you use through the meter and you pay them for your electricity and/or gas use. See also electricity retailer.

REZ
Renewable Energy Zones are zones where multiple customers agree to connect and share a single connection to upgrade to the grid. 

Ripple control system
A system used to control the electrical load on our network by, for example, switching load such as domestic water heaters off during peak load, or signalling to large users that they are in a high price period (thereby encouraging them to use as little power as possible during that time). 

Ripple signal
A signal injected into our network which a receiver can pick up and which does not affect your other appliances. 

Service main
The line or cable that connects your property to our network. Your service main is owned and maintained by you and is not part of Powerco’s network.

Smart meters
Electricity meters that are digital (able to collect time of use and power quality data) and connected (so that they can automatically report data, be connected or disconnected and in some cases perform Load Control). 

Solar PV
Electricity generation through solar photovoltaics (PV). PV cells convert sunlight into electricity by an energy conversion process.  Solar PV is different from solar hot water as it generates electricity that can be fed back in to our network requiring an installation to meet required standards. 

Substation
Electrical installations that are enclosed in a building or structure and that are used to transform, distribute or transmit electricity. 

TOU
Time of Use is a term used for tariffs that apply to the time electricity is used rather than a flat rate tariff that applies at any time of the day or night. 

Transpower
The State-owned enterprise (SOE) that owns and maintains the electricity National Grid. 

Transformer (TX)
Transformer is a piece of network equipment that transforms high voltage electricity to lower voltages as it gets closer to where it is needed.  

Uncontrolled load
In the context of load management, uncontrolled load is the estimate of the loading level that would have occurred if our network had not controlled any load. 

Variable charges
Variable charges are calculated based on the amount of electricity you use.  

ZS
Zone Substation refers to one or more large transformers that transform sub transmission high voltage to distribution voltages.