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Along with local council regulations, grid-connected solar power systems must comply with local lines companies (your local council will look at certain installation and electrical safety requirements). Solar power systems can overload power lines; lines companies make sure this won’t happen. They have established criteria for all grid connected solar power systems, and require approval when new solar power systems are connected to the lines.
Most council's in New Zealand won’t require consent applications. Many councils indicate that they apply the use of section 43 of the Building Act 2004, which describes solar panel installations as energy work. As solar installations aren’t considered as building work, a building consent is not required (but can be applied for, voluntarily).
Some New Zealand solar installation companies suggest there is no need for solar customers to receive council consent. Be cautious, you may wish to call your local council, or ask your solar installer to find out the council’s exact requirements.
Some council's do not differentiate between solar power and solar hot water systems. Customers might be forced to fill out an application for 'solar hot water consent', again, proceed with caution.
Nearly all Heritage-listed buildings require a resource consent and strict zones may also require consent.
| Council Name | Consent Required | Exceptions | Type Of Consent | Consent Cost | Turn Around Time |
| Ashburton District Council | No | ||||
| Auckland Council | No | The property may be in a special interest or heritage zone. Adding the photovoltaic panels on the roof may affect height-to-boundary restrictions. The solar panels form part of the roof cladding. | - | - | - |
| Bay of Plenty Regional Council | No | ||||
| Canterbury Regional Council | NA | Environment Canterbury does not hold any regulations on solar power systems. Please contact your city/district council for this. | |||
| Carterton District Council | No | ||||
| Central Hawke's Bay District Council | No | An example of a trigger for a building consent might be weight bearing limits on a roof. A resource consent might be needed if the installation was stand alone and near the boundary of a property. | |||
| Central Otago District Council | No | ||||
| Chatham Islands Council | No | ||||
| Christchurch City Council | No | ||||
| Clutha District Council | No | ||||
| Dunedin City Council | No | ||||
| Far North District Council | No | ||||
| Gisborne District Council | No | ||||
| Gore District Council | No | ||||
| Grey District Council | No | ||||
| Hamilton City Council | Yes | Building Consent | No Cost | 20 working days | |
| Hastings District Council | TBC | ||||
| Hauraki District Council | No | Unless the installation does not comply with the permitted development standards of the District Plan, such as exceeding maximum height or daylighting standards. | |||
| Hawke's Bay Regional Council | No | ||||
| Horowhenua District Council | No | ||||
| Hurunui District Council | No | ||||
| Hutt City Council | Maybe, project dependent | - | No cost | 20 working days | |
| Invercargill City Council | No | Unless the installation of the panels effected the structure of the building in some way or because of any possible wind-loading as a result of panels being placed in a raised position. | |||
| Kaikoura District Council | No | ||||
| Kaipara District Council | No | ||||
| Kapiti Coast District Council | No | ||||
| Kawerau District Council | No | ||||
| Mackenzie District Council | No | ||||
| Manawatu District Council | No | ||||
| Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council | TBC | ||||
| Marlborough District Council | No | ||||
| Masterton District Council | No | ||||
| Matamata-Piako District Council | No | Only if building criteria is exceeded. | |||
| Napier City Council | No | It should be noted that a resource consent would be required if they exceed height in relation to boundary District Plan requirements. | |||
| Nelson City Council | No | ||||
| New Plymouth District Council | |||||
| Northland Regional Council | NA | ||||
| Opotiki District Council | Yes | Building and resource consent | See fees link | 20 working days | |
| Otago Regional Council | Yes | Building | Based on value of work | 20 working days | |
| Otorohanga District Council | TBC | ||||
| Palmerston North City Council | No | ||||
| Porirua City Council | No | ||||
| Queenstown-Lakes District Council | Maybe | A resource consent is sometimes required depending on which zone it falls into. If the zone requires resource consent for the construction or external alterations to a building then a resource consent is likely required. This is the case in our rural zones and town centre zones, however in residential areas the council generally don’t require consent for the external appear of the building and no resource consent is required. | 20 days | ||
| Rangitikei District Council | No | If the photovoltaic panels also form the roof cladding, a building consent will be required. | |||
| Ruapehu District Council | Yes | Building consent | Based on value of work | 20 working days | |
| South Taranaki District Council | No | ||||
| South Waikato District Council | No | Except heritage buildings. | |||
| South Wairarapa District Council | No | Except heritage buildings. | |||
| Southland District Council | No | ||||
| Southland Regional Council | No | ||||
| Stratford District Council | No | ||||
| Taranaki Regional Council | No | ||||
| Tararua District Council | No | If the solar panels are on an independent structure, then building consent would be required if over 20 m2. | |||
| Tasman District Council | Yes | Building consent | $250 inc GST | 20 working days | |
| Taupo District Council | No | ||||
| Tauranga City Council | No | ||||
| Thames-Coromandel District Council | No | ||||
| Timaru District Council | No | ||||
| Upper Hutt City Council | No | ||||
| Waikato District Council | TBC | ||||
| Waikato Regional Council | No | ||||
| Waimakariri District Council | No | ||||
| Waimate District Council | No | ||||
| Waipa District Council | No | ||||
| Wairoa District Council | No | If the PV panels also form the roof cladding, a building consent will be required for this work. Also if the building is a commercial building and it contains a specified system a building consent would be required. | |||
| Waitaki District Council | No | ||||
| Waitomo District Council | No | If the photovoltaic panels also form the roof cladding, a building consent will be required. | |||
| Wellington City Council | No | ||||
| Wellington Regional Council | No | ||||
| West Coast Regional Council | TBC | ||||
| Western Bay of Plenty District Council | No | ||||
| Westland District Council | No | ||||
| Whakatane District Council | Yes | Building consent | No cost | 20 working days | |
| Whanganui District Council | No | Historic buildings will require building consent. | |||
| Whangarei District Council | No | No |
All lines companies require consents. If you are going to be exporting solar power to their power lines, then they need to know!
They want to make sure that the technical specifications of your system meet their prerequisites.
Lines companies on occasion reject grid connection requests based on the size of the system. Often, this will be resolved by installing a smaller system or installing a zero export device.
To find lines companies requirements, and applications forms for each area of New Zealand, please see the list below;
| Lines Company | Areas Serviced | Application Fee | Observation & Testing Fee | Distributed Generation Link - Most have links to application forms |
| Alpine Energy | Geraldine, Temuka, Pleasant Point, Timaru, Twizel, Waimate | $160+GST | no fee | https://www.alpineenergy.co.nz/customers/generating-electricity |
| Aurora | Dunedin, Alexandra, Cromwell, Queenstown, Arrowtown, Wanaka | no fee | $60+GST | http://www.auroraenergy.co.nz/get-connected/generating-your-own-electricity/ |
| Buller Electricity | Westport | no fee | no fee | https://www.bullerelectricity.co.nz/distributed-generation/ |
| Centralines | Waipawa, Waipukurau | $100+GST | $60+GST | https://www.centralines.co.nz/tell-me-about/electricity/distributed-generation/connecting-dg-equipment-of-10kw-or-less |
| Counties Power | Auckland (southern Papakura only), Pukekohe, Port Waikato | no fee | no fee | https://www.countiespower.com/DG1-information-pack |
| Eastland Network | Eastland Network | $100-$200+GST | TBC | http://www.eastland.nz/eastland-network/about-us/distribution/ |
| Electra | Foxton, Shannon, Levin, Otaki, Waikanae, Papaparaumu, Paekākāriki | no fee | no fee | https://electra.co.nz/assets/Distributed-Generation-Page/Distributed-Generation-10kW-or-less-Preferred-terms-conditions.pdf |
| EA Networks | Ashburton, Methven | $80 - $100 for additional investigation | no fee | https://www.eanetworks.co.nz/power/distributed-generation/ |
| Electricity Invercargill - Contracted Powernet to manage | Invercargill (inner suburbs), Bluff | $100+GST | $60+GST | https://powernet.co.nz/your-power-supply/distributed-generation/ |
| Horizon Energy Distribution | Kawerau, Murupara, Edgecumbe, Whakatāne, Ohope, Opotiki | $100-$200+GST | $60+GST | https://www.horizonnetworks.nz/connect-to-solar |
| The Lines Company | Otorohanga, Te Kūiti, Mangakino, Taumarunui, Turangi, Ohakune | TBC | TBC | https://www.thelinescompany.co.nz/my-account/generate-your-own-power/ |
| MainPower | Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs, Oxford, Rangiora, Woodend, Kaiapoi | no fee | no fee | http://www.mainpower.co.nz/get-connected/distributed-generation/10kw-or-less |
| Marlborough Lines | Blenheim, Picton, Renwick | $90+GST | $60+GST | https://www.marlboroughlines.co.nz/Our-Services/Get-Connected/Distributed-generation.aspx |
| Nelson Electricity | Nelson (CBD) | no fee | no fee | http://www.nel.co.nz/general-information/distributed-generation/ |
| Network Tasman | Takaka, Motueka, Nelson (outer suburbs), Brightwater, Wakefield, Richmond | $100+GST | $60+GST | https://www.networktasman.co.nz/solar |
| Network Waitaki | Oamaru, Hampden | $200+GST | $60+GST | https://www.networkwaitaki.co.nz/customers/green-energy/ |
| Northpower | Whangarei, Dargaville, Mangawhai, Ngunguru | no fee | no fee | https://northpower.com/electricity/services/electricity-at-your-place/connections/distributed-generation |
| Orion | Christchurch, Lincoln, Rolleston, Darfield, Leeston | $92 (incl. GST) | A fee may be charged depending on your location and your existing metering |
http://www.oriongroup.co.nz/contractors/distributed-generation |
| OtagoNet - Contracted to Powernet | Milton, Balclutha, Palmerston, Waikouaiti, Owaka | $100+GST | $60+GST | https://powernet.co.nz/your-power-supply/distributed-generation/ |
| The Power Company - Contracted to Powernet | Gore, Te Anau, Winton, Riverton, Invercargill (outer suburbs) | $100+GST | $60+GST | https://powernet.co.nz/your-power-supply/distributed-generation/ |
| Powerco | Coromandel, Whitianga, Tairua, Thames, Whangamata, Paeroa, Waihi, Waihi Beach, Te Aroha, Morrinsville, Matamata, Putaruru, Tokoroa, Katikati, Tauranga, Te Puke, Waitara, New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Opunake, Manaia, Hāwera, Patea, Whanganui, Raetihi, Waiōuru, Taihape, Marton, Bulls, Feilding, Palmerston North, Pahiatua, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Featherston, Martinborough | no fee | no fee | https://www.powerco.co.nz/get-connected/distributed-generation/ |
| Scanpower | Dannevirke, Woodville | $200+GST | $60+GST | http://www.scanpower.co.nz/services/electricity-connections/35-connecting-distributed-generation |
| Stewart Island Electrcity Supply Authority | Stewart Island | TBC | ||
| Top Energy | Taipa Bay-Mangonui, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Russell, Paihia, Kawakawa, Moerewa, Kaikohe | $100+GST | $60+GST | http://topenergy.co.nz/network/getting-connected/distributed-generation/ |
| Unison Networks | Rotorua, Taupo, Napier, Hastings | $100+GST | $60+GST | https://www.unison.co.nz/tell-me-about/electricity/solar-energy/distributed-generation |
| Vector | Wellsford, Warkworth, Snells Beach, Helensville, Waiheke Island, Auckland (excluding southern Papakura) | no fee | no fee | https://www.vector.co.nz/personal/solar-old/connecting-your-generation-to-our-network/10kw-or-less |
| Waipa Networks | Cambridge, Te Awamutu | $200+GST | $60+GST | http://waipanetworks.co.nz/customers/distributed-generation/ |
| WEL Networks | Huntly, Raglan, Hamilton | no fee | no fee | https://www.wel.co.nz/get-connected/distributed-generation/ |
| Wellington Electricity | Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt | $100+GST | $60+GST | https://www.welectricity.co.nz/getting-connected/generating-your-own-electricity/ |
| Westpower | Reefton, Greymouth, Hokitika, Haast | $100-$200+GST | $60+GST | https://www.westpower.co.nz/distributed-generation |
There are several standards in which grid connect solar power systems must comply;
Off-grid solar power systems must comply with;
Battery installations must comply with;
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