A change to New Zealand’s electrical regulations introduced in November 2025 has attracted serious criticism from the Electrical Inspectors Association, which contends that the amendment increases the risk of electrocution for both electrical workers and building occupants.
The rule change lifted existing restrictions on inserting switches, circuits, or fuses into the mains power earthing system of a building. The stated rationale was to enable new applications including EV charging infrastructure and improved disaster resilience in electrical networks. The Electrical Inspectors Association argues that the safety basis for the restrictions that were lifted has not changed, and that the amendment creates new hazards without adequate countermeasures.
Why the PEN Conductor Matters
At the centre of the dispute is the PEN conductor — the combined protective earth and neutral conductor that forms a critical part of the safety architecture of New Zealand’s standard earthing system. The PEN conductor serves two functions simultaneously: it provides the return path for current under normal operating conditions, and it provides the protective earth connection that ensures exposed metalwork on appliances and structures is safely bonded to earth.
The risk identified by the Electrical Inspectors Association arises from what happens when a switching device is inserted into the PEN conductor and that device opens — either as intended in normal operation or through a fault. If the neutral connection is broken while the live conductors remain active, the protective earth function of the PEN conductor is also lost. Earthed metalwork that was previously safe to touch can become energised at full mains voltage without an active fault being detectable by standard protection devices.
International Context
Australia, whose electrical standards New Zealand has historically aligned with, maintains protections for the PEN conductor that the New Zealand amendment has removed. Engineering New Zealand, Master Electricians, and WorkSafe have all been drawn into the conversation, reflecting the breadth of concern within the electrical industry.
The review process is ongoing, and electrical contractors and inspectors should ensure they are keeping pace with any guidance issued by WorkSafe or the Ministry of Energy as the situation develops. In the interim, careful attention to the earthing system design on any project involving EV charging or smart electrical infrastructure is warranted.
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