NZ Lines Company Solar Application Fees & Export Limits 2026

Written by Kristy Hoare, Founder & Solar Market Research Specialist
Last updated: 27th October 2026

Most NZ lines companies charge $100-$310 to approve your home’s solar connection, with an average of around $140. Nine NZ lines companies don’t charge a cent. Since 11 May 2026, the default limit for exporting solar power to the grid is 10kW. Your lines company can only set a lower limit at addresses with network constraints. Most publish a list or map of these, while some, like EA Networks and Horizon, check each application instead.

How Much Do Lines Companies Charge for Solar?

All lines companies require consent. If you are going to be exporting solar power to their power lines, then they need to know!  Most solar installation companies take care of this process for you, but here are the details if you'd like to know.

The lines company checks that your solar system and inverter meet its technical requirements.

Your lines company also sets how much power you can send back to the grid. Since 11 May 2026, the default export limit is 10kW. They can only set a lower limit at addresses with network constraints. Most publish a list or map of these, while some check each application instead.

Below you can find the solar application fees and application forms for each lines company in New Zealand. Observation and testing fees only apply where they are required.

How to read the fees below

For most standard residential solar systems, the lower application fee shown in the table will apply.

If you see two application fees, the cheaper fee is generally for a standard solar system using an inverter already approved by the lines company. The higher fee may apply if the inverter meets the required standards but is not on the lines company's pre-approved list.

It is uncommon for lines companies to require additional testing or observation of your system, so I wouldn’t factor these fees into your solar budget.

Last updated: 27 October 2026

Which Lines Company Am I With?

Your lines company owns the poles and wires in your area, and it's not the same as your power retailer. It's usually named on your power bill. If not, use the search box in the table below.

Residential Application Fees and Export Charges - 10kW or less

What Is the Solar Export Limit in NZ?

The default solar export limit in New Zealand is 10kW for standard household systems, under the Electricity Authority's Code change that took effect on 11 May 2026.

Electricity lines companies place limits on how much power a solar system can export back to the grid at any one time.

These limits exist because local networks can only handle so much power. If too much solar is exported at once, voltage can rise and equipment such as transformers and cables can become overloaded, potentially causing shutdowns or local outages.

Export limits help lines companies keep the network operating safely and reliably.

For standard residential solar connections in New Zealand, the default export limit is now 10kW. A lower limit can only apply where your lines company has assessed your address as constrained.

What does a 10kW export limit mean for a typical 8kW solar system?

Basically, nothing.

An 8kW solar system can only generate around 8kW at peak output, so it can't export 10kW. In reality, some of the solar electricity will usually be used within the home as it is generated, meaning the amount exported will be even lower.

So for a typical 8kW home system, a 10kW export limit places no practical restriction on the system.

What about solar systems larger than 10kW?

This is where export limits become more relevant, but an important distinction is that a 10kW export limit does not necessarily mean your solar system is limited to generating 10kW.

For example, imagine you have a 12kW solar system generating 12kW. If your home is using 3kW at the time, only 9kW is being exported to the grid, so you are still comfortably within a 10kW export limit.

If the home was using very little electricity and the system wanted to export more than 10kW, the inverter or export-control equipment would restrict the amount being sent back to the grid.

Even with a 12kW system, the overall amount of solar generation lost because of a 10kW export limit may be relatively small. Solar systems don't sit at their maximum output all day, and whenever your home is using some of that solar electricity itself, less power needs to be exported.

It's also worth remembering that electricity you use directly in your home is generally much more valuable than electricity you export. Most power companies pay 8c to 17c per kWh for exported solar (excluding GST), while power from the grid costs roughly 33c per kWh (excluding daily charges). Compare solar buy-back rates, or see what solar costs on our solar cost page.

For most households, maximising self-consumption is therefore more important than maximising how much solar electricity can be exported to the grid.

Export Limits Vary by Lines Company

Export limits and connection requirements can vary between electricity distributors and even between different parts of the same network.

From 11 May 2026, 10kW is the mandatory default export limit for standard household solar and battery systems. Lines companies can offer dynamic or flexible limits instead, as long as you can still export at least 10kW when the network isn’t constrained. They can only set a lower limit at specific addresses after a network assessment, and they must publish a list or map of those addresses. If your address isn’t listed, the 10kW default applies.

If you're considering a larger residential solar system, your installer should check the available export capacity with your local lines company as part of the system design and connection application. 

View all lines companies export limits in the table below.