What are the opportunities around a National FEderated Power outage map?

WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND A NATIONAL FEDERATED POWER OUTAGE MAP? 

What’s the project?

Digital Built Aotearoa (DBAF), in partnership with NEMA and CDEM groups, is researching the feasibility of a national federated power outage map to improve emergency response. The aim of the project is to understand opportunities to aggregate near real-time outage data from New Zealand’s 29 Electricity Distribution Businesses (EDBs) into a single, secure platform for use by emergency services, government agencies and other utilities – with the aim of supporting better strategic planning, assessment of risk, reduced impacts on communities, and access to critical information.

We'd love your insights

What are we asking from EDBs?

  • We’ve had some detailed conversations with EDBs about the source of outage data and perceived barriers or opportunities. (Thank you to all who have already participated!)
  • Fill out a 5 min survey about your data landscape, and give your feedback on key pillars of the project (link below);
  • Nominate a project contact to attend a workshop (2 – 3-hour time commitment) by filling in the contact form;
  • Work with us to share test outage data in any available format (API, CSV, XML, JSON, GIS feeds, etc.);
  • Provide feedback on pilot outcomes.

How do we make participation easy and worthwhile?

  • Minimal resource commitment for EDBs. DBAF handles the data mapping / transformation to a common schema
  • An opportunity to influence national data standard recommendations for outage reporting
  • Strengthened relationships with NEMA, CDEM and other EDBs and wider industry stakeholders

Contact form

If you have any questions or insights to share – or you’d like to be part of the workshop and feedback process, please get in touch below.

Get involved by filling in the survey – scan the QR code below, or visit this link: 

forms.office.com/r/t6z3sJUS50 

Static PDF list of questions available here. 

Our takeaways from speaking with EDBs so far:

  • The data landscape is complex and varied: There’s significant disparity in how outage data is captured and reported across EDBs, due to differing SCADA systems and reporting tools.
  • Digital transformation is underway: Many EDBs we’ve spoken to are undergoing major digital and data upgrades, which present both challenges and opportunities for sharing / standardisation
  • EDBs hold the data we’re most interested in: While smart metres and ICP data have an important place, that granularity may not be required for the purposes of a federated outage map. EDBs seem to be the best source for the outage data needed to support emergency response coordination.
  • Wider benefits: While EDBs may not be the main beneficiaries of this kind of national federated outage map, there are still clear benefits – such as reduced interactions / duplication of effort, fewer ministerial requests, and progress toward collaboration targets.
  • Despite differences, integration looks possible: A scan of existing publicly available outage data shows that, even with current disparities, a federated approach appears technically achievable.

Project stages:

  1. Discovery & scoping: Working with EDBs, CDEM, NEMA and any other key groups identified to understand the technology landscape, possibilities around federating outage data, and agreeing the scope.

  2. Data & design: Seeking test data from EDBs to understand how this would be mapped to a common schema, and how this would be represented in a shared platform.

  3. Testing & implementing: Workshop with EDBs and other stakeholders to test approach (November 2025), using the findings to develop the proof-of-concept (PoC) – with another session in early 2026 to review the PoC and discuss outcomes.

  4. Reporting & recommendations: Our findings, offerings around future iterations / inclusions, recommendations on how to bring more standardisation to the way outages are reported across EDBs for ease of sharing. This will be completed by August 2026.

More details about the project:

This project led by the Digital Built Aotearoa Foundation (DBAF) was selected by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for funding to explore and pilot options for a national electricity outage map, using data-sharing to improve emergency response and community resilience. 

The project, funded through the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Resilience Fund, began in July 2025 and will run through to mid-2026.

The aim of the initiative is to deliver a proof-of-concept platform that is capable of enabling monitoring and mapping of power outages across New Zealand by integrating the most up-to-date data from each electricity distributor. 

Rather than building a centralised database, the project will investigate federated data-sharing options, which enable companies to retain ownership and control of their data and systems while still contributing a few key data points to a shared national view.

DBAF will work with NEMA, CDEM groups, and sector stakeholders to identify the technical requirements for enabling near real-time mapping, opportunities for standardising data across the sector, and any barriers to data-sharing. 

While the primary focus will be providing support for people who manage emergency responses, the project will provide for a wide scope of outcomes. Part of DBAF’s investigations will consider how to bring (and increase in future) value for industry stakeholders. (Note: This pilot is not focused on providing a public-facing map).

Any proof-of-concept tool developed as a result of the initiative will be built on open-source, vendor-neutral technology that’s interoperable and scalable – designed to work in with existing systems and for ease of adoption across the rest of the country.

This pilot will build on DBAF’s experience in developing trusted, federated platforms like the National Forward Works Viewer and NZ Underground Asset Register — tools used by hundreds of organisations across the country to support coordination in the infrastructure sector and improve the accessibility of critical information during emergencies.

 

What’s the problem?

New Zealand frequently experiences electricity disruptions caused by planned maintenance, infrastructure failures, and natural disasters such as storms and earthquakes. These outages significantly impact public safety, economic activity, and community well-being.  

Currently there is no unified view of power outages within Aotearoa, either regionally or nationally. Electricity distribution businesses (EDBs) hold their data in separate systems of record, with no simple way of sharing and integrating this information for those who need to access it across jurisdictional boundaries. This is a hindrance for planning and coordinating normal operations, and delays response times during emergencies.

Who are we?

These tools are stewarded by Digital Built Aotearoa (DBAF) is a purpose-built foundation that stewards open, federated digital tools for public good, with the help of operating manager Open Plan. Read more about us and our wider charitable purpose here.