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Application Fees for Connecting a Solar Power System to the Grid in New Zealand

By Kristy Hoare on in Solar Power New Zealand

Application Fees for Connecting a Solar Power System to the Grid in New Zealand

One of the additional costs you might have to pay when installing a grid-connect solar power system is a fee to your local lines company to approve your solar power system exporting power to the grid.  Not all lines companies have a charge, lucky for some!  Some lines companies will also charge you an observation and testing fee.

Normally your selected solar installation company will fill in the lines companies application forms and will charge the fee to you, rather than you paying the lines company.

I have been through all of the New Zealand lines companies websites and given some of them a call to find out if they have connection fees and whats the price.  Please note the fees are for solar power system sizes 10kW or less.  

Last updated: 14th April 2021

Lines Company & The Link To Their DG Page Areas Serviced Application Fee GST Observation & Testing
Alpine Energy Geraldine, Temuka, Pleasant Point, Timaru, Twizel, Waimate $200 ex. $60
Aurora Dunedin, Alexandra, Cromwell, Queenstown, Arrowtown, Wanaka no fee - -
Buller Electricity Westport $100 ex. $60
Centralines Waipawa, Waipukurau $100 ex. $60
Counties Power Auckland (southern Papakura only), Pukekohe no fee - no fee
Eastland Network Gisborne, Wairoa $100 ex. -
Electra Foxton, Shannon, Levin, Otaki, Kapiti no fee no fee
Electricity Ashburton Ashburton $80 inc. $100
Horizon Energy Distribution Kawerau, Murupara, Edgecumbe, Whakatane, Opotiki $200 ex. -
The Lines Company Otorohanga, Te Kuiti, Mangakino, Taumarunui, Turangi, Ohakune $200 ex. $105
MainPower Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs, Oxford, Rangiora, Woodend, Kaiapoi no fee - MainPower do not offer inspection services
Marlborough Lines Blenheim, Picton $90 ex. $60
Nelson Electricity Nelson (CBD) no fee - -
Network Tasman Takaka, Motueka, Nelson (suburbs), Brightwater, Wakefield $100-$200 ex. $60
Network Waitaki Oamaru $115 inc. $60
Northpower Whangarei, Dargaville no fee -
Orion Christchurch, Lincoln, Rolleston, Darfield, Leeston $92 inc. -
OtagoNet (Managed by PowerNet) Milton, Balclutha $115 ex. $69
The Power Company (Managed by PowerNet) Gore, Te Anau, Winton, Riverton, Invercargill (outer suburbs) $115 inc. $69
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, Hawera, Patea, Wanganui, Raetihi, Waiouru, Taihape, Marton, Bulls, Feilding, Palmerston North, Pahiatua, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Featherston, Martinborough no fee - no fee
PowerNet Invercargill City, Southland, West Otago, parts of Central Otago and Stewart Island $115 inc. $69
Scanpower Dannevirke, Woodville $200 ex. $60
Top Energy Taipa Bay-Mangonui, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Russell, Paihia, Kawakawa, Moerewa, Kaikohe $115 inc. $69
Unison Networks Rotorua, Taupo, Napier, Hastings $100 ex. $60
Vector Wellsford, Warkworth, Snells Beach, Helensville, Waiheke Island, Auckland (excluding southern Papakura) no fee -
Waipa Networks Cambridge, Te Awamutu $200 inc. $60
WEL Networks Huntly, Raglan, Hamilton $100 ex. No inspection required.
Wellington Electricity Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt $100 inc. $60
Westpower Reefton, Greymouth, Hokitika $100 ex. $60


Showing 9 comments

Posted by Kristy on 18th Mar 2024 13:13:12

Hi Dave, sounds like you now have more than 10kW of solar installed? Therefore the $500 fee sounds right according to Vector. Hopefully no more extortion to come!

Posted by dave charles on 11th Mar 2024 20:25:24

ive just had additional solar power installed & batteries.vector charged $500 for admin fee,does this sound right,can i change the lines company,is there any other extortion fees to come.

Posted by Kristy on 20th Jan 2017 15:14:45

Hi Barney

The fees in this blog are one off payments.

Unison are the only company that are charging the solar tax, which is an annual fee that will effect solar power owners, the extra charge will be between $128 and $258 a year. Unison defend their solar tax as they say solar power system owners are still heavy users of peak electricity demand. This charge doesn't account for solar owners who have low demand at peak times and does not encourage anyone to reduce their peak demand if they can.

Posted by barney on 20th Jan 2017 13:26:02

are these application and observation and testing fees, a one-off charge or are they trying it on by charging it as monthly or annual fee.

if so maybe it is time that Parliament stood up to these companies who are not supporting energy saving and removed their ability to make such charges.

Posted by Kristy on 13th May 2016 11:27:46

Hi Dion

Mercury and Meridian are both energy retailers. This page outlines the fees that the lines companies charge.

See details about Murcurys buy back price here: https://mysolarquotes.co.nz/about-solar-power/residential/solar-power-buy-back-rates-nz/#sthash.Acsk6eOd.dpuf

Posted by Dion on 12th May 2016 21:41:58

What about Mercury?

Posted by sighmin on 21st Oct 2015 11:02:08

Meridian are retailers I think and not suppliers ,can't understand the large cost variations given some companies put no charge on ,

Posted by Kristy on 3rd Oct 2015 15:34:53

Hi Yankiwi,

Info about Meridian Energy can be found on this page - https://mysolarquotes.co.nz/about-solar-power/residential/solar-power-buy-back-rates-nz/

Posted by Yankiwi on 3rd Oct 2015 12:37:53

What about Meridian?

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