Did You Know?
At Marlborough Lines, we don’t just operate and maintain the poles, wires, and equipment that keep the lights on—we also manage the power flowing across our network. This behind‑the‑scenes role is known as Distribution System Operation, and it’s becoming increasingly important as the way Marlborough uses and produces electricity continues to evolve.
We currently deliver electricity to more than 27,000 homes and businesses. Many of these now include Distributed Energy Resources (DER) such as solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles. These technologies don’t just consume electricity—many of them can also export power back into the network, resulting in more complex, two‑way energy flows.
Managing all of this safely, reliably, and efficiently is a core part of our role as your Distribution System Operator (DSO).
Why Do We Manage Demand on the Network?
You may already be familiar with one of the tools we use today - our ripple control system, which allows us to temporarily shift the timing of electric hot water heating in many homes. Networks around New Zealand have used ripple control for decades to manage peak demand, and it continues to deliver real benefits for consumers.
Electricity usage in Marlborough typically peaks during cold mornings and evenings, when we all reach for heating, cooking, and hot water at the same time. By managing some of this demand, Marlborough Lines can:
Improve the resilience and efficiency of the network
Shift electricity consumption to lower‑priced periods, helping reduce overall costs for consumers
Reduce stress on critical assets, extending their service life
Support continued electrification, including EVs, solar, and new technologies
This demand management helps ensure that we can continue to supply safe and reliable power—without unnecessary network upgrades that ultimately impact the cost of electricity for everyone.
What Does the Future Hold?
As Marlborough’s energy landscape evolves, so will we. Marlborough Lines is committed to expanding our DSO capabilities so our community can confidently adopt new technology—solar, batteries, EVs, smart appliances, and more—while still enjoying a resilient and dependable network.
We’re proud to be a consumer‑owned lines company, and we take seriously our responsibility to manage Marlborough’s electricity network in a way that supports the region today and prepares it for the future.