MainPower has updated our connection agreement.

MainPower has updated our connection agreement.

The agreement outlines the relationship between MainPower and its customers.

The updates were completed after consultation with all retailers trading on MainPower’s network.

A copy of the updated MainPower Connection Agreement can be found here.

MainPower updated Connection Agreement effective 1 March 2024

overview of amendments to 1 December 2017 version

The following provides an overview of the rationale for amendments to the 1 December 2017 version of MainPower’s Standard Connection Agreement

1.       Alignment with new Standard Conveyance Use of System Agreement between MainPower and Electricity Retailers

The updated Connection Agreement ensures alignment with MainPower’s new standard conveyance use of system agreement where MainPower is providing line function services direct to customers, and electricity retailers are billing line charges to customers as MainPower’s agent.

MainPower has developed a new standard conveyance use of system agreement in consultation with electricity retailers with the intention of replacing all outdated legacy agreements with a fit-for-purpose agreement that incorporates terms that reflect current industry commercial and operational arrangements.

These include terms from the Electricity Authority’s default distributor agreement for distributors with interposed arrangements (retailer is providing line function services to customers) where appropriate, and otherwise terms which are more appropriate to MainPower’s conveyance arrangement.

2.       Change to agency arrangement – electricity retailers billing line charges as MainPower’s agent

The updated Connection Agreement reflects more accurately the agency arrangement set out in the GST Act - MainPower authorises electricity retailers to act on its behalf to create and effect the contractual relationship for the provision of line function services between MainPower and the customer effective when the electricity retailer establishes an electricity supply agreement with the customer, and the electricity retailer is billing line charges to customers as MainPower’s agent.

3.       Notification of planned service interruptions

Amended requirement for customers to receive at least 4 working days’ notice of planned service interruptions (increased from 2 working days) – where such interruption is planned at least 10 working days’ in advance.

For most planned service interruptions, the electricity retailer is responsible for notifying affected customers, but in some cases MainPower may elect to notify. 

4.       Privacy Act

More comprehensive and updated requirements regarding the collection and use of personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and MainPower’s Privacy Statement found on its website.

5.       Adds clarity

The agreement adds clarity in several areas including:

• Contract establishment and termination

• When liability for line charges commences and ceases

• Outline of what is meant by the guarantee of acceptable quality set out in section 7A of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993

• Circumstances that may result in disconnection by MainPower

• Consent requirements before connecting any distributed generation capable of injecting electricity into the Network