The South Auckland neighbourhood of Karaka Harbourside, near Papakura, will soon become one of the centres of innovation in the electricity sector, with Counties Energy and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) today launching a new initiative that will see it become New Zealand’s first ever “smart energy neighbourhood”.
Households in the neighbourhood have the chance to opt into a pilot project investigating how smart homes can optimise their electricity use and support a more efficient and resilient electricity system for Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Karaka Harbourside Smart Energy Pilot is a collaboration between EECA and Counties Energy, designed to show how household appliances can communicate with each other and the electricity network in real time (an approach known as network orchestration), providing insights into how a more flexible, distributed energy system – where homes are producing energy as well as using it – can be efficiently operated and scaled.
It is New Zealand’s first suburb-scale project demonstrating how smart energy technology and active customer participation can reduce electricity use during peak times, helping to manage network demand, lower emissions from electricity production and put control back into the hands of customers.
It is anticipated that around 80 homes in the Karaka Harbourside community will participate in the five-year pilot, with Counties Energy actively seeking participants. Participating households will receive smart energy technology that is 50 percent subsidised by EECA, making it easier and more affordable for residents to adopt future focused solutions, while allowing Counties Energy to pilot automated management of electricity network capacity at peak times (dynamic capacity allocation) in a way that is invisible to the customer but supports the wider electricity grid.
Counties Energy Chief Network and Digital Officer Moonis Vegdani says the pilot is part of the company’s broader commitment to future-proofing energy supply across the region.
“Our electricity networks are experiencing increasing uptake from electric vehicles, solar generation, and higher overall energy demand. This demonstration pilot is about the future of energy use in Aotearoa New Zealand, using smarter technology to manage electricity load on the network more efficiently, but without compromising customer comfort or convenience,” says Vegdani.
“Our goal is to recruit around one quarter of households in Karaka Harbourside for the pilot. As a 100 percent customer-owned organisation, we are committed to ensuring that our innovations deliver real benefits to the people we serve. This isn’t just about testing new technology, it’s
about putting customers at the centre of the future energy system. We’re excited to explore how smart energy solutions can reduce consumer costs, infrastructure costs, lower emissions, and improve community resilience.”
The pilot intends to demonstrate how emerging distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar, batteries, hot water systems, EV chargers, and home energy management systems can optimise energy use and reduce network pressure. This is part of Counties Energy’s broader Distribution System Operator (DSO) strategy(external link) and supported through the Electricity Authority’s Power Innovation Pathway(external link)
EECA Group Manager of Policy and Regulation Murray Bell, says household pilots like the one in Karaka Harbourside are crucial to unlocking the full national potential of flexible electricity use. EECA recently released research showing that using electricity more flexibly in homes and businesses could deliver up to $3bn a year in savings for the country.
“This pilot and others like it will inform our work as a regulator, helping us ensure we have the right standards and settings in place so that households and businesses can get the most from what could be a huge opportunity,” says Bell.
“They show how everyday energy use can be reimagined to make better use of the electricity infrastructure we already have in place,” says Bell.
The learnings from the pilot and future pilots around New Zealand will help inform future flexible electricity (or energy response) programmes across the country and support New Zealand’s transition to more customer-centric energy systems.
“At the core of this pilot is our dedication to delivering real value for customers. We’re pleased to be upgrading participating homes with smart energy technologies that help lower peak demand, boost energy efficiency, and make day-to-day energy use easier and more affordable. These solutions operate quietly behind the scenes, giving residents the benefits of a modernised energy ecosystem without adding complexity to their daily lives,” says Vegdani.
“We’re also pleased to be working alongside EECA, who have shown outstanding support for this pilot. Along with our installation and supply partners, their expertise and commitment will ensure a high-quality customer experience during the pilot and beyond.”
Learn more about this pilot here: Karaka Harbourside Smart Energy Pilot | Counties Energy(external link)
Additional information
About Counties Energy
Counties Energy is an electricity distribution network provider that runs from coast to coast across the southern Auckland and northern Waikato regions. The company is 100 percent owned by the Counties Energy Trust who holds the shares on behalf of electricity consumers. The region is one of the fastest growing areas in New Zealand, with the company upscaling the
business to meet demand, invest in core business and new technology, from EV charging to smart grid infrastructure. For more information visit Counties Energy website(external link)
About the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)
EECA is the government agency that works to improve the energy efficiency of New Zealand’s homes and businesses and encourages the uptake of renewable energy. Its purpose is to mobilse New Zealanders to be world leaders in clean and clever energy use.