MainPower Increases Export Limits For Single Phase Homes
MainPower has announced the export limit for single phase homes has increased from 5 kW to 10 kW.
Written by
Tom Stubbs
Published on
December 10, 2025
MainPower, North Canterbury's electricity network provider has announced an exciting update for customers on their network. The export limit for single phase homes has increased from 5 kW to 10 kW, allowing many solar owners to export more clean energy back to the grid.
Here’s what you need to know.
What The Export Limit Increase Means
If you’re a single phase customer on the MainPower network, your solar system may now be eligible to export up to 10 kW instead of the previous 5 kW limit.
This is great news for households with larger solar arrays or those interested in getting more value out of their system. This change has the potential to improve the performance of your system and increase the amount of energy you’re able to sell or send back during peak solar production.
Find your network provider here.
What Happens Next
Our team will be reviewing all Christchurch Solar single phase customers connected to the MainPower network who may be affected by this change.
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Each home will be assessed individually to confirm whether the export limit can be increased.
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In most cases, this update can be completed remotely.
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You won’t need to do anything at your end.
Once your export settings have been updated, we will notify you and lodge the required paperwork with MainPower on your behalf.
Important Things To Note
MainPower May Still Limit Export Occasionally
To maintain network stability, MainPower may temporarily restrict export during certain times. This is completely normal and part of standard network management.
This Change Does Not Apply To Three Phase Homes
Although MainPower’s announcement went out to all customers, they have confirmed that the 10 kW export limit increase applies only to single phase connections. Three phase export limits remain unchanged. We have reached out to MainPower for information on if and when three phase will be included and will keep customers updated if this changes.
This update is a great opportunity for many customers to get even more value from their solar system. We hope more networks will follow suit.
Our Advice
Existing Systems:
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Considering an Upgrade? If you’re thinking about adding more panels or a battery, this change can significantly boost your ROI. For example, a battery exporting 10 kW during peak periods could noticeably reduce your bill while supporting the network.
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Reassess Your Retail Plan: With doubled export limits, it pays to prioritise plans with strong buy-back rates. If you previously focused on self-consumption due to export caps, now is a good time to revisit your options. Tools like ChatGPT can provide a quick overview, but for personalised advice, contact your local branch. We can analyse your past bills and recommend the retailer that work
New Installs:
Now is a great time to make the switch to solar, as you’ll be able to increase the amount of energy you can sell or send back to the grid during peak production.
This update is a great news for both existing and new customers to unlock more value from their solar systems. We hope more networks will follow suit!
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