MartinJenkins was commissioned by the Electricity Authority to undertake an independent review of Transpower’s process for managing generation grid connections, a critical component of New Zealand’s electricity system and transition to a low-emissions economy. The review was conducted amid significant growth in connection requests driven by renewable generation, battery storage, and electrification projects.
The review assessed how effectively the connections framework balances efficiency, fairness, transparency, customer needs, and system outcomes. Through stakeholder engagement, process analysis, and comparison with international practice, MartinJenkins examined customer experiences, Transpower’s performance measures, and the effectiveness of recent process reforms.
Overall, the review found that Transpower’s connections process is fit for purpose and broadly consistent with international peers. While customers generally considered the process effective, the review identified opportunities to improve predictability, communication, and the visibility of performance information. MartinJenkins also found a strong focus on continuous improvement and noted that existing performance measures provide only a partial view of overall performance. The review provided independent insights and practical recommendations to support ongoing improvements, helping ensure New Zealand’s transmission system can efficiently accommodate increasing investment in renewable generation and electrification.
