New Zealand’s solar rules changed more in 2025–26 than in the previous decade, and there’s been real confusion about what changed and when. Here’s an accurate, dated rundown of the changes that matter — most of which have already landed.
Network voltage limits widened (13 November 2025)
From 13 November 2025, the Electricity (Safety) Regulations widened the allowable network supply voltage from 230 V ±6% to 230 V ±10%. That’s the range the grid can deliver at your connection — not an inverter setting. The extra headroom matters because tight voltage limits are one of the things that force solar systems to throttle back.
The battery standard AS/NZS 5139 became mandatory (November 2025)
Also from November 2025, AS/NZS 5139:2019 — the safety standard for battery energy storage — became mandatory in New Zealand, pulled in through the amended Electricity (Safety) Regulations, with a 12-month transition running to November 2026. It sets real requirements for where and how home batteries can be installed, so it’s not somewhere to cut corners.
Peak export rebates began (1 April 2026)
From 1 April 2026, lines companies must pay rebates — effectively negative charges — to households and small businesses (connections up to 45 kVA, exporting up to 45 kW) for supplying power to the network at peak times. Rates vary by network, with several distributors setting peak-window rates in the 5–7 cents per kWh range. The catch: lines companies pay these to retailers, and it’s up to your retailer whether and how they pass them on.
The default export limit doubled to 10 kW, with Australia A settings (11 May 2026)
This is the big one, and the change most often mis-dated. On 11 May 2026 the Electricity Industry Participation Code (Export Limits) Amendment 2026 came into force. It lifted the default residential export limit from around 5 kW to 10 kW where the local network allows, enabled dynamic (flexible) export limits, and made the ‘Australia A’ region settings in AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 the default — replacing the old ‘New Zealand’ profile. Australia A is a settings change within the same standard (voltage response, volt-watt and volt-var, frequency and protection), not a new standard. An inverter left on the old profile is more likely to have its connection application rejected than to fail an EWRB inspection.
Retailer export plans (from 1 July 2026)
From 1 July 2026, large retailers — those with 5% or more of the market — must offer at least one time-varying export plan that rewards exporting at peak times. There’s no mandated minimum rate, so retailers still set the cents, but it’s another push toward paying solar owners more fairly for well-timed export.
And the installer endorsement (phasing in to 1 September 2026)
Separately, installing grid-connected solar and battery systems now requires the electrician to hold a specific ‘Mains Parallel Generation Systems’ endorsement on their licence. Grandparenting has closed, and the deadline for electricians to hold the endorsement has been extended to 1 September 2026. It’s worth asking your installer about.
Why this matters to you
- If you’re getting quotes: check the inverter will be commissioned to the Australia A settings, and that your electrician holds (or is gaining) the endorsement.
- If you export a lot: the 10 kW default and peak rebates may change the ideal system size — and make a battery stack up better than before.
- If you’re an installer: update your commissioning defaults, your connection-application process, and your battery installs for AS/NZS 5139.
Cutting through the confusion about what changed when is a big part of what SolarLink does — for installers who want to stay compliant and owners who want their quote to reflect the current rules, not last year’s.
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