DOIA REQ 0027466 Spencer Jones.pdf

11 March 2026

Ref: DOIA-REQ-0027466

Spencer Jones
Email: [FYI request #33698 email]

Tēnā koe Spencer Jones

Thank you for your email of 11 February 2026 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request information held by the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE), including material held by or inherited from the former
Energy Safety function, relating to advanced electricity meters (commonly referred to as “smart
meters” or “AMI meters”).

This request relates to the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2016, corresponding to the
national AMI rollout phase.

No personally identifiable information is sought.

1.  Technical guidance and compliance documentation
2.  Please provide copies of any:
       •       technical guidance notes,
       •       advisory circulars,
       •       Electrical Codes of Practice (ECP) references,
       •       test specifications,
       •       internal technical papers,
       •       compliance notes,
       •       or installation advisories
3.  that refer specifically to:
       •       advanced electricity meters,
       •       smart meters,
       •       AMI systems,
       •       meter exchange programmes,
       •       surge withstand capability,
       •       overvoltage protection,
       •       EMC (electromagnetic compatibility),
       •       EMI (electromagnetic interference),
       •       harmonics,
       •       power quality impacts,
       •       or RF emissions from electricity meters.
If no such technical guidance exists, please confirm that position.
2. Meter approval and testing expectations
Please confirm whether, during 2010–2016:

2.1 MBIE (or Energy Safety) maintained any centralised approval, model registration, or
compliance verification framework specific to advanced electricity meters.
2.2 MBIE issued or held any documentation outlining minimum surge immunity, EMC/EMI
standards, or electrical safety test requirements specific to AMI/smart meters.

If no meter-specific requirements existed beyond general electrical installation standards,
please confirm.

3. Incident monitoring during rollout
Please provide any:
       •       internal briefings,
       •       reports,
       •       summaries,
       •       or correspondence
relating to safety incidents, complaints, or technical risks associated with smart meter
installations or replacements during 2010–2016.

If no such material exists, please confirm.

4. Format
Please provide documents electronically in PDF format where possible.
If any part of this request would likely engage section 18(f), please provide reasonable
assistance under section 13 by advising how the scope may be refined.

I note we initially considered partially transferring this request to both WorkSafe and the Electricity
Authority (EA). However, on review of your request we believe you are specifically seeking information
held by MBIE. Should you wish to receive information on these topics, please reach out to WorkSafe or
the Electricity Authority directly.

In terms of Energy Safety – I note that the function you are referring to was transferred to WorkSafe upon
its establishment. Specifically, in terms of monitoring and guidance in relation to smart meters, WorkSafe
will hold relevant information. Any information relevant to WorkSafe was transferred from MBIE when it
was established. You can read more about WorkSafe’s Energy Safety function here: Energy Safety |
WorkSafe.

In terms of Smart Meters more generally, regulation of smart meters, and responsibility for the Smart
meter rollout sits with the EA, which is directly tasked with regulating these areas. You can read more
about metering, as set out by the EA in part 10 of its Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010: Part 10 -
Metering. This sets out metering component certification requirements.

For completeness. MBIE does not provide technical guidance, approve meters, track testing of,
manage/approve model registration of, nor incident monitor, smart meters.  Therefore, I am refusing this
request under 18(g) of the Act, which relates to the refusal of requests for information that is not held.
Noting, as clarified that we believe you are seeking information held by MBIE, and the regulatory
functions you refer to do not sit with MBIE.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact [email address].

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.

Nāku noa, nā



Peter Bartlett
Director, Innovation and International Energy Markets