Participant identifiers

What is a participant identifier?

Participant identifiers are a unique 4 character code allocated by the Authority to participants. The Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 requires participants to use the participant identifier in electricity market transactions.

Participant identifiers are also used to identify the connected asset owner where a network connects to another network (network supply points (NSPs)).

Participants may apply to the Authority for a participant identifier using the form on this page. When joining the industry participants should talk with the Authority before requesting a participant identifier, to gain an in depth understanding of the way the electricity market transacts (which can be complex). There are risks and liabilities that you need to be aware of, as well as legislative requirements that you must comply with before you can be given access to the market systems.

Participants may suggest a preferred participant identifier. When suggesting a preferred participant identifier, participants should consider the following:

• participant identifiers are not issued to agents. Some third party providers can apply for a non-participant identifier in order to use the registry hub
• the participant identifier must be
  • four alpha characters long
  • unique (not already in use in the electricity or gas market)
  • not easily confused with another participant identifier already in use

A participant is usually issued only one participant identifier. For example, an embedded network owner has multiple embedded networks throughout the country. This is one participant and so only one participant identifier is necessary.

The Authority will advise you if your preferred identifier is unsuitable.

A list of participant identifiers is available at our Participant Register Portal(external link).

If you have any questions about participant identifiers, please send an email to the participant register team. 

Email: participantregister@ea.govt.nz