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Enabling investment and innovation

Evolving multiple trading and switching

Introducing multiple traders at a property and an operational review of industry switching processes.

Overview

Switching

The Electricity Authority has made a provisional decision to amend the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 to modernise electricity switching processes.

Efficient switching processes are critical to a competitive electricity market. They help consumers move between electricity providers easily and ensure responsibilities for electricity supply, metering, and network services are transferred accurately and on time.

The proposed changes would modernise switching arrangements, improve data accuracy, and increase the efficiency and reliability of market processes, helping to reduce switching delays and billing issues for consumers.

In August 2026 we sought technical feedback on the draft Code amendments. View consultation

Multiple trading relationships

Multiple trading relationships (MTRs) are a proposed reform that would allow consumers to engage with multiple electricity service providers at a single connection point, supporting greater choice, competition, and innovation.

Consultation feedback showed broad support for the objectives and potential benefits of MTRs. However, stakeholders also raised concerns about the scale, complexity, costs, and timing of implementation.

Given the significance of these changes, the Authority has decided that further work is needed before making decisions on whether and how MTRs should be implemented.

To support this work, we are exploring a regulator-led sandbox to test a range of scalable MTR use cases, in a real-world environment. The sandbox would help build the evidence needed to better understand potential benefits, costs, risks and implementation challenges.

We will work with industry participants, consumers, technology providers and other stakeholders from August to October 2026 to explore the scope and design of a proposed sandbox.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to both the switching and MTR consultations. Your feedback continues to help shape the Authority's work programme and future market development.

Timeline

Past activity
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