Key points

• Updated standards: The amendment updates the standards referenced in both regulations.
• Voltage tolerance adjustment: The definition of standard low voltage has changed to accommodate increased generation and demand from solar (PV) systems and electric vehicle charging. This is outlined in Regulation 28.
• LPG quality change: standard update to NZS 5435:1996 including Amendment 1.
• NZS 7901: Update of the cited standard for operating a safety management system to NZS 7901:2014.

Gas

What is changed by the amendment for gas distribution and gas supply:

• Update of the cited standard for operating a safety management system to NZS 7901:2014.
• Update of the cited standard for LPG quality to NZS 5435:1996 including Amendment 1.
• Update of the cited standard for odorisation to NZS 5263:2003 including Amendment 1.
• Update of the cited standard for gas measurement to  NZS 5259:2015.
• Update of the cited standards for aspects of distribution systems that don’t operate an SMS to AS/NZS 4645 parts 1,2, and 3 to the 2018 version.

The cited standard for Natural gas quality remains unchanged as NZS 5442:2008.

Approximately 100 standards citations have been updated, for a complete list of the changes please see the amendment regulations(external link)

Electricity

What has the amendment changed for works:

• Update of the cited standard for operating a safety management system to NZS 7901:2014.
• The voltage supplied at the point of supply for an electrical installation has been changed to standard low voltage +- 10% to allow the charging of an EV to lower the voltage and allow the input from PV to raise the voltage.
• Update of the citation of AS/NZS 3000 to the 2018 version including amendment 1 and 2, with modifications in citation.
• Update of the citation of AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 for the specific purpose of for a low voltage mains parallel generation system that is connected to the national grid.
• Update of the recognition of AS/NZS 4836:2023 for safe work practices.
• The update of the requirements for fibre optic cable with respect to the application of ECP 34 through the citation of AS/NZS 7000:2016.
• The update of the requirements for fibre optic cable with respect to the application of ECP 34 through the citation of IEEE 1222-2019.
• Updating of the standards related to harmonics and flicker to:
  • IEC 61000-3-2 Ed 2.0 (2018) Part 3-2
  • IEC 61000-3-3 Ed 3.2 (2021) Part 3-3
  • IEC 61000-3-4 Ed 1.0 (1998) Part 3-4
  • IEC 61000-3-11 Ed 2.0 (2017) Part 3-11
  • IEC 61000-3-12 Ed 2.1 (2011) Part 3-12
  • IEC/TS 61000-3-5 Ed 2.0 (2009) Part 3-5

Approximately 550 standards have been updated in the ESR, for a complete list of the changes please see the amendment regulations(external link)

Transition periods

The amendment allows owners and operators of works and distribution systems to comply with the old standards cited in the GSMR and ESR until 13 November 2026, after which they will need to comply with the standards listed in the amendment regulations.

There is no requirement to upgrade existing infrastructure to meet the changes introduced by the amendments provided they have not become unsafe.

What does the industry need to do?

Owners of distributions systems and works need to ensure that they are operating a SMS that complies with NZS 7901:2014 before 13 November 2026.