Stock exchange operator NZX will take on a new role in the electricity sector.
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
It has been chosen by the Electricity Authority to become what is called the extended reserve manager, responsible for managing the electricity system in the event of a sudden loss of generation.
NZX CEO Tim Bennett said this was a world first and provided an additional level of security to New Zealand's electricity supply.
"The Electricity Authority is putting in place a mechanism to determine what to do if there's a sharp reduction in supply ... [by] managing demand," he said.
Mr Bennett said NZX would be consulting this year with electricity players about how such a system would work, and it would be in place next year.