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Master Electricians and the New Zealand Electrical Inspectors Association (NZEIA) welcome the Government’s decision to restore the prohibition on Protective Earth and Neutral (PEN) switching, which comes into force today, Friday 2 October 2026.
This is the right decision for the safety of electricians, electrical inspectors and the households and businesses they work in. When PEN switching was permitted under changes to the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 late last year, Master Electricians, NZEIA and others across the sector raised serious concerns, including the risk of injury or death from electric shock. Those concerns have been heard and acted on.
We acknowledge the Minister for Energy, Hon Simeon Brown, MBIE officials and WorkSafe Energy Safety for engaging with industry on this issue, and for taking a careful approach while MBIE carries out further analysis and an independent expert review of the risks and benefits of PEN switching.
Restoring the prohibition now means the practice is removed before it becomes embedded, at a time when more households are installing solar, batteries and EV chargers.
Electrical contractors and inspectors need rules that are clear, workable and based on evidence. That certainty allows the industry to get on with electrifying New Zealand safely. Master Electricians and NZEIA will take part constructively in MBIE’s independent expert review, and will keep working with the Government and regulators so that any future decision on PEN switching is informed by the people who design, install and inspect electrical work every day.
Much of our work involves working closely with Members of Parliament, government officials and a wide range of industry stakeholders to ensure: