Distributed Generation

What is ‘Distributed Generation’?

Distributed Generation (DG) is one of a number of different terms used in the electricity sector to describe private generation sources selling electricity back to the National Grid.

In New Zealand, the most popular types of private energy generation include solar panels and wind turbines. If the purpose of the installation is purely to power the property it’s installed on, it won’t need to be connected to the National Grid, and functions purely to reduce the property owner’s need to purchase electricity from a retailer. For example, a home owner might install solar panels on their roof to supply electricity to their home, thus reducing their monthly power bill.

By connecting this equipment to our network using Distributed Generation technology, the same home owner could also sell any excess electricity generated through their solar panels back to their retailer, effectively gaining a credit on their power bill.

Distributed Generation (DG)

At Unison we manage Distributed Generation (DG) connections in accordance with the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010, Part 6 (the Code), which categorises Distributed Generation into two groups:

  • Connections of 10 kW or less (generally residential), and
  • Connections above 10 kW (generally commercial/industrial).