We have a comprehensive emergency response plan in place to maintain system security and services to New Zealand. We will be using our usual channels for industry communication during this time but will use this webpage to publish updates or additional COVID-19 related information.
Latest update and messages
3 September 2020
NZGB modelling changes will be required to correctly account for the impacts of COVID-19 on the 2020 load profile. The current forecast method (forecasting based upon the same period last year) will result in significant under-forecasting during the periods where New Zealand experienced reduced electricity demand due to COVID-19. The system operator proposes to use 2019 loads (with a load growth factor applied) in place of 2020 loads for all forecasts in 2021. Model changes will be required to implement this and may result in changes to calculated balances. Generation balances shown in NZGB for late March (and beyond) will not be accurate until this change is made.
1 May 2020
The system operator is communicating its approach to outage coordination and assessment during the COVID-19 epidemic. The Outage Planning Policy will continue to dictate the system operator’s approach but we will need to consider different risks to reflect the current system conditions and uncertainties. Further details can be found in 
this document [ pdf 226.67 KB ], which was also communicated via a Customer Advice Notice [ 178.41 KB ] published on 01 May 2020.
Related CANs
| Date | CAN |
|---|---|
| 1 May 2020 | CAN System Operator COVID-19 Response: Outage coordination and assessment and security of supply [ 178.41 KB ] |
| 30 Apr 2020 | CAN Change in ability of AUFLS to cover a North Island ECE due to demand reduction from AUFLS exempt major industrial users [ 89.07 KB ] |
| 14 Apr 2020 | CAN Automatic under-frequency load shedding (AUFLS) provision considering COVID-19 situation [ 89.22 KB ] |
| 14 Apr 2020 | CAN Change in ability of AUFLS to cover a North Island ECE due to demand reduction from AUFLS exempt major industrial users [ 90.79 KB ] |
| 9 Apr 2020 | CAN Assessment of low loads in Upper North Island [ 254.58 KB ] |
| 30 Mar 2020 | CAN System Operator COVID-19 Response webpage [ 172.42 KB ] |
| 24 Mar 2020 | CAN COVID-19 response: Expected changes in load [ 187.01 KB ] |
Useful links
Our usual communications will also include COVID-19 Response related content where relevant
- Market Insights which provides weekly market reports
- Security of Supply page and weekly updates
- New Zealand Generation Balance (NZGB)
- Planned Outage Coordination Process (POCP)
