Prohibition on PEN switching restored
The Government has restored the prohibition on Protective Earth and Neutral (PEN) switching while further analysis and an independent expert review are carried out.
PEN switching, a technical electrical installation practice, was permitted under changes made to the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 in late 2025.
Soon after the 2025 amendments, some electricity industry representatives raised safety concerns about PEN switching, including risks of serious injury and death from electric shock.
While WorkSafe New Zealand has provided advice on how the risks associated with PEN switching could be managed, there remains significant concern within the sector about whether it can be used safely.
Due to differing views, the prohibition on PEN switching is restored to remove the risk of potential significant harm while further work is undertaken on the risks and benefits of PEN switching to inform any future decisions.
The change is expected to have little impact on households or the electrical industry because PEN switching has seen little to no uptake since it was permitted.
The prohibition was restored by the Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2026, which came into force on 2 October 2026.