Background
The Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2025 (ESAR25) were published 13 October 2025 and the amendments come into effect 13 November 2025.
Note: being an imminent public safety issue an accelerated processing time is requested.

Issue: PEN Conductor Protections Removed
ESAR25 r12 amends Schedule 2 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 (ESR).

ESR Schedule 2 is amended to cite AS/NZS 3000:2018 (…Wiring Rules) subject multiple modifications. The issue raised here is the deletion of clauses 2.3.2.1.2 (b) & (c) from the Wiring Rules.

AS/NZS 3000:2018 clauses 2.3.2.1.2 (b) & (c) provide the only prohibitions preventing the extremely unsafe action that is the installation of switches, fuses or circuit breakers within an installation’s Protective Earth Neutral (PEN) conductor.
In the Multiple-Earthed Neutral system used by New Zealand, the neutral conductor of consumer mains is a PEN conductor.
Important note: the presence of fuses or independent switches/breakers in a PEN conductor can render the installation lethal under normal operating conditions (even with no faults present).

Question 1:
Please provide details of the management of change (or equivalent) procedure associated with this regulatory change (allowing a fuse, independent circuit breaker or switch within the PEN conductor), including requirements for:
• initiation of the process
• requirements analysis (ie justification for the proposed change)
• consultation with industry, the public, and other government entities
• due diligence
• review (internal, peer, and expert)
• detailed technical analysis
• risk/reward and benefit-to-cost-ratio analysis
• required signoffs or gating
• other necessary steps

Question 2:
Please provide all documentation associated with this regulatory change, including but not limited to the above items.

Question 3:
During due diligence prior to the release of ESAR25, what overseas jurisdictions were identified that allow the installation of fuses, switches, disconnects, and/or circuit breakers within Consumer Mains Neutral, Protective Earth Neutral, or Protective Earth conductors of equivalent or similar systems of supply?

End.