About the testing
EECA tested 16 external power supplies (EPS) against the current international Energy Performance Mark VI benchmark. The current New Zealand minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) is Energy performance Mark III, which is much lower than current international benchmarks. Of the products tested, 7 met the Mark VI requirements, while 9 did not.
This testing helps prepare for possible updates to New Zealand’s MEPS.
Our work on External power supplies
External power supplies (EPS) make up a large proportion of all regulated products sold in New Zealand – with over 18 million sold since 2012. While their power output is usually small, often designed to charge a laptop or phone, their sheer numbers means that small gains in efficiency can add up to large gains in energy conservation.
International standards, and more importantly technology, has moved on from the current Australia/New Zealand Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) – Energy Performance Mark III. The United States adopted Energy Performance Mark VI in 2016 while the European Union followed suit in 2019.
To prepare for potential MEPS updates, EECA has conducted exploratory testing of 16 EPS against higher energy standards than currently required.
Out of the 16 models tested, 7 passed all the proposed requirements while 9 did not make the grade.
What is an external power supply?
Most New Zealanders already interact with an EPS on a daily basis. External power supplies take power from the mains supply and convert the AC 240V from the wall into the specific current, voltage and form that a device is designed to consume.
EPS have been a regulated product since 2012 with both MEPS and Mandatory Energy Performance Labelling (MEPL) requirements in place.
What are the current requirements?
Current Australia/New Zealand MEPS have Energy Performance Mark III as the minimum requirement. The existing standard also doesn’t cover adaptive EPS that can deliver variable voltages depending on the needs of the device they’re powering, such as the now very common USB-C power supplies.
Right now, 87% of EPS sold in New Zealand are not captured by current MEPS. The combination of Energy Performance Marks above Mark III and variable voltage delivery technology means they outstrip the current minimum levels, creating a regulatory gap.
Proposed regulatory changes
The Australian energy regulator is exploring increasing their MEPS to align with the current global trends by setting Energy Performance Mark VI as the minimum requirement. New Zealand will look at increasing our MEPS to match.
These new MEPS requirements will also encapsulate adaptive voltage EPS and simultaneous multiple voltage devices that are beyond the remit of the current regulations.
How we tested external power supplies
EECA purchased and tested 16 EPS against the current international benchmark Energy Performance Mark VI standards. The EPS selected were a mix of fixed output (11) and adaptive output (5).
The testing requirements can be broken down into two categories:
- Overall electrical efficiency is measured while the EPS is plugged in and active. Adaptive EPS are measured at high and low output depending on what they’re rated to deliver.
- No-load power outputs are also measured, better known as ‘standby’, where the EPS is plugged in but not delivering power to a device.
Results of testing
The testing showed that not all met their claimed energy efficiency:
- 5 of the 11 fixed output devices met Energy Performance Mark VI.
- 2 of the 5 adaptive output devices met Energy Performance Mark VI.
The fixed output EPS that did not meet Energy Performance Mark VI did not meet the requirements for both efficiency and standby outputs.
All five adaptive power EPS met the standby requirements, but just two met the requirements for electrical efficiency.
Table 1: Overall test results
| External power supply type | Tested | Met Energy Performance Mark VI | Did not meet proposed Energy Performance Mark VI |
| Fixed output | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| Adaptive output | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 16 | 7 | 9 |
Potential impact on the NZ market
Most EPS sold in New Zealand go beyond Energy Performance Mark III. However, if they don’t actually meet the efficiency claims of the label, then the outcome for consumers is poor.
With the majority of the EPS tested not meeting Energy Performance Mark VI, this highlights that importers need to ensure their own EPS meet the requirements if they’re adopted in New Zealand.
Consumer choice does not drive energy efficiency of EPS. EPS are often bundled with an end-use product, so consumers are unaware or unable to choose the type of EPS they are buying. Consumers are likely to make choices based on the features of the product for which the EPS is used and are unlikely to consider the efficiency of the EPS.
The best outlook for importers going forward is to investigate adopting Level VI as the new baseline to get ahead of the curve. On top of that, it will be prudent to ask for independent test evidence that shows compliance with the standards.
In terms of energy savings, aligning New Zealand's MEPS with current international standards would save 40GWh for the period 2025-2040. That's enough to power 5673 homes for a year. That number will rise to 134GWh if New Zealand aligns with the anticipated Mark VII after it's implemented internationally – enough to power 19,004 homes.