New Electricity Information Exchange Protocol EIEP14A for product data published

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) has published a new information exchange protocol, EIEP14A, that standardises and improves how retailers will share information about their electricity products and plans with any person who requests the information. This includes consumers and third-party service providers (such as the providers of electricity plan comparison tools).

A modular suite of protocols will replace the existing Electricity Information Exchange Protocol: Retailer Tariff Notification 14 (EIEP14) and include EIEP14A, EIEP14B and EIEP14C. Today we are publishing EIEP14A, with consultation on EIEP14B and EIEP14C to take place later this year.

The new protocols form part of the Authority's consumer choice work programme, and support smarter switching tools - like the Authority's new Billy website - and help consumers make confident, informed decisions about their power.

From 30 October this year, retailers will need to use EIEP14A and comply with other Code changes announced in March that improve consumer electricity billing and require retailers to offer time-varying plans.

"While this is one of those 'behind the scenes' structural changes, data standards open the door to smarter products and stronger competition which ultimately serve consumers by putting downward pressure on prices," says Andrew Millar, General Manager Retail and Consumer.