Domestic Generation

Interested in generating your own power for the grid ?

TrustPower is able to buy power from small scale domestic generators who are properly connected to supply the national grid.  This includes micro hydro schemes, solar panels and wind turbines (under 10 kW capacity).

In all cases the power supplied needs to be properly controlled and modified for supply to the grid through your local lines company.
You will need to consult a qualified electrical contractor to advise on the connection conditions of your local lines company.

For TrustPower to purchase electricity the customer installation must be with TrustPower (as retailer) for both consumption and for generation.  Once connected, the export of electricity to the grid is achieved via a new meter which TrustPower installs to measure the surplus energy resulting from your net generation.  This net generation is the output of your generator minus the total energy you are using at any point in time. The cost to install this meter would be up to $100+GST, payable by the customer.

The reading on the new meter is taken (or estimated) monthly and credited to your monthly invoice at the “generation rate” in cents per kWh.  Any generation that has been used to supply your own consumption is not metered, but effectively reduces the imported energy on your main meter, saving you the cost of buying electricity at the retail rate.

The retail rate you are currently paying for power supplied includes lines company charges, administration costs and operating margins.  TrustPower’s “generation rate” is derived from the equivalent wholesale cost of electricity on the spot market, adjusted for volume, reliability and other factors.  Our current “generation rate” is 7.0c/ kWh, + GST if applicable.

The links below provide more information that you may find useful in researching domestic (“distributed”) generation.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority - Government agency information.

Sustainable Electricity Association New Zealand - for general background info on distributed (small scale) generation.

Electricity Networks Association - for the requirements to connect to grid via your local network company, and other useful links.

Electricity Authority - for a useful report on the current economics and regulation of domestic generation.

Electricity Authority - Fact sheet from the Electricity Authority regarding small scale distributed generation.

If you have any questions or would like any further information about domestic generation please contact us at TrustPower on domesticgeneration@trustpower.co.nz