Closing date for submissions, is 5pm on Friday 24 July 2026.
Transpower, as System Operator, is consulting on a draft System Operator Strategy and invites feedback from industry participants and stakeholders.
Earlier this year, we released an initial engagement paper as part of developing a refreshed strategy. This first phase focused on identifying the key trends and drivers shaping the electricity sector. We received valuable feedback from across the industry, which has helped refine our understanding of the risks, opportunities, and priorities for system operations
Why a refreshed strategy is needed
The electricity sector is undergoing significant transformation. Increasing system complexity, a more variable and renewable generation mix, and rapid technological change are fundamentally reshaping how the power system operates.
In this environment, the System Operator plays a critical role in maintaining a secure and reliable power system, while supporting efficient market outcomes and enabling industry to respond to emerging risks.
What we are consulting on
Taking into account feedback from Phase 1, stakeholder engagement, and further analysis, we have developed a draft System Operator Strategy that sets out our proposed direction over the next ten years.
The draft strategy:
- brings together technical, market, and policy perspectives
- reflects stakeholder feedback and international learnings
- Outlines a range of initiatives to build capability and capacity in the System Operator to support the electrification of Aotearoa’s economy, and
- will inform our funding proposal for the 2028–31 period with the Electricity Authority
Consultation Documents
System Operator Strategy (initial engagement consultation)
Consultation questions
We want to hear your views on the draft strategic priorities, outcomes and initiatives outlined in this consultation document, including whether they appropriately reflect the key issues and opportunities for system operations over the next decade based on the trends shaping our industry. We invite you to scrutinise our thinking and consider questions such as:
Strategic priorities:
1. To what extent do you agree with each strategic priority? Please explain your reasoning.
2. Are there any proposed strategic priorities that you consider more important than the others, and why?
3. Do you agree with how the five strategic priorities have been defined? Are any priorities missing, are there any overlaps,
tensions or trade-offs that need to be better addressed?
Outcomes and initiatives:
4. For each strategic priority, do you agree with the proposed outcomes? Are the outcomes sufficiently clear and measurable?
5. We have provided a program of proposed initiatives under each of the priorities. Are there any additional or different actions that are needed to achieve the intended outcomes?
6. Are there priorities or initiatives in this Strategy where the System Operator role needs to be expanded, reduced or clarified
to deliver on the strategic priorities?
Implications and implementation:
7. What do you see as the key barriers or enablers to delivering this strategy (e.g. effective communication and engagement,
enduring collaboration with regulators and industry, data access, capacity and capability, investment and funding)?
Submit Your Feedback
Please prepare your submission in electronic format (in Microsoft Word). Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] by 5 pm on Friday 24 July 2026. Please include the phrase “System Operator Strategy” in the email subject line.
All submissions will be acknowledged and published on our website, subject to confidentiality requirements. If your submission contains confidential material, please clearly identify it and provide a version suitable for publication. We intend to publish all submissions. Note that all information provided to Transpower is subject to potential disclosure under the Official Information Act 1982.
If you have any questions about this consultation, please contact us at [email protected].