• Clarification of acceptable voltages 
• Review of the Electric Vehicle Safety Guidelines 
• Christmas light safety 
• Buying and selling gas and electrial appliances 
• Energy Safety Summer Campaign 
• Shut-down period over Christmas 

Unfortunately our September 2017 Business Update may have given the impression that it is acceptable to sell appliances marked for only 240 V in New Zealand. This is incorrect. All consumer appliances sold or supplied for use in New Zealand are required to be safe at our supply voltage of 230 Volts.

The Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 require appliances that are intended for operation at standard low voltage and fitted with a flat 2-pin or 3-pin plug with the dimensions specified in AS/NZS 3112 (the standard plug configuration for New Zealand) must be designed to operate safely at 230 V.

Any appliance that is not marked with a voltage rating of 230 V, or a range that includes 230 V (e.g. 200 -240 V), should be considered as not safe for sale, supply or use in New Zealand. Some appliances are designed for a range of voltages and to be considered safe for New Zealand this range must include 230 V.

To understand this we need to look at the definition of standard low voltage (230 V) and Regulation 23, as this contains provisions that declare certain appliances to be unsafe based on standard low voltage, and therefore not able to be used, sold or supplied in New Zealand.

Regulation 23 (a) states that an appliance is deemed to be unsafe if the voltage at which it operates safely is not appropriately and adequately marked on the appliance. This Regulation causes the voltage to be marked on the appliance.

Regulation 23 (d) states that if the appliance is fitted with, or is an integral plug device that includes, a flat 2-pin or 3-pin plug with the dimensions specified in AS/NZS 3112 and is not designed to operate safely at standard low voltage, that it is unsafe.

The definition of Standard Low Voltage is contained in Regulation 4.

standard low voltage means,—
(a)          in respect of electricity supplied by either a single-phase MEN system or a multiple-phase MEN system, a nominal voltage of 230 volts AC between phase and neutral; or
(b)          in respect of electricity supplied by any other system, a nominal voltage,—
(i)            in relation to single-phase supplies, of 230 volts AC between conductors; or
(ii)          in relation to 2-phase supplies, of 400 volts AC or 460 volts AC between conductors; or
(iii)          in relation to multiple-phase supplies, of 400 volts AC between conductors

Therefore if you use, sell or supply an appliance that is fitted with an AS/NZS 3112 plug it must be designed and marked to be suitable to work on 230 V, or the appliance is unsafe.

We have issued a draft revision of the Electric Vehicle Charging Safety Guidelines and we invite comments on these revised guidelines. The closing date for submissions is 27 February 2018.

As we start to turn our attention to Christmas, many of us embrace the tradition of decorating items with colourful lights. We monitor the sale of decorative lights at this time of the year, as part of its ongoing audit programme. 

We want you to enjoy Christmas festivities safely. You can find out more about lighting on our website. 

Want some advice on what to look for to ensure gas and electrical appliances are safe before you buy? Check out our website for guidance on buying gas and electrical appliances.  

TradeMe runs a series of helpful blogs for buyers and sellers of electrical goods. 

We have a broader mandate than just workplaces – we work with both the public and industry to keep people and property safe from the dangers of electricity and gas. Our Energy Safety Summer Campaign aims to remind Kiwis to act safely this Summer around gas and electricity - at home and when camping.

Claude, our gas and electricity expert is back to point out all the risks you might find in the outdoors or when doing DIY around the home. 

We have seven new videos that highlight gas safety in caravans, gas safety when camping, working with electricity at height, portable RCDs, LPG leaks, battery use and charging and buying electrical products online. You can check out all the new videos on our website.

Enter our competition

We're giving you the chance to go in the draw to win one of three BBQs that have been provided by the LPG Association of New Zealand. 

All you need to do is jump over to our Facebook page and try and spot the five gas and electricity risks in our 360 image of 'Camp Claude'. Comment with the five correct answers and go in the draw to win.  

You can find out more about the competition and the gas and electricity risks on our website.

We will close for the holiday break from 5:00pm on Friday 22 December  and will reopen at 8:30am on Wednesday 3 January. 

To report electrical or gas incidents you can visit the energy safety website. 

We wish you a safe and happy holiday season.