Half-hourly data required for reconciliation and TOU billing changes (New Zealand)

Electricity retailers in New Zealand must submit half-hourly (HHR) volume information to the reconciliation manager for ICPs with a half-hour capable meter. In practice, where the required half-hourly metering is in place, these ICPs will need to be reconciled as HHR rather than NHH. This rule change does not, however, create an explicit requirement for retailers to bill customers using HHR data. There may be commercial benefits to doing so, but your billing approach remains your decision.

Your actions

Below are your three options you'll need to complete by 1 October 2026.

1. Apply for an exemption from the Electricity Authority (EA) and continue reconciling and billing using NHH data.
2. Use HHR data for reconciliation only, while continuing to bill customers using NHH data.
3. Use HHR data for both reconciliation and billing.

Option 2 – HHR reconciliation with NHH billing

If you choose to use HHR data for reconciliation while continuing to bill using NHH data, you will need to:

1. Process all HHR data using Import Advanced Meter Reads.
2. Update the Metering Type on the Site screen to TOU.
3. Add an E1 meter to the required sites with the Metering Type set to NONBILLING.

Once configured, Utilmate will receive and process the HHR data for inclusion in the AV-090 report, while your existing NHH data will continue to be used for customer billing.

Any gaps in the HHR data will need to be identified and resolved by you before the data is submitted for reconciliation.

Option 3 – HHR reconciliation and billing

If you choose to use HHR data for both reconciliation and customer billing, you will need to:

1. Process all HHR data using Import Advanced Meter Reads.
2. Update the Metering Type on the Site screen to TOU.
3. Add an E1 meter to the required sites with the Metering Type set to INTERVAL.
4. Make the existing meter inactive by adding an appropriate removal date.
5. Ensure the applicable price plans have a timing profile configured, most likely All Day.

Once configured, Utilmate will receive and process the HHR data for both billing and reconciliation, and the data will be available in the AV-090 report.

Any gaps in the HHR data will need to be identified and resolved by you before submitting the data for reconciliation.