Heat Pump Hot Water Systems Face New Efficiency Standards Under Revised EECA Regulations
New minimum efficiency standards for heat pump hot water systems will require all models sold in New Zealand from July 2026 to meet stricter performance criteria. The revised regulations could eliminate up to 30% of current market models that fail to meet the updated coefficient of performance thresholds.
How to comply
It is a legal requirement for importers and manufacturers to register all heat pump hot water cylinders with EECA before sale. Registration must include independent test certificates demonstrating compliance with the new minimum COP requirements.
New efficiency standards impact
New performance requirements
Heat pump hot water systems must achieve a minimum coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.2 under standard test conditions from July 2026. This represents a 14% increase from the previous 2.8 COP minimum that has applied since 2019.
Testing standards
All systems must be tested according to AS/NZS 4234:2021 under revised protocols that include ambient temperature testing at 7°C and 15°C. Standards can be purchased from Standards New Zealand.
Which products are included
The Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations apply to all electric heat pump water heating systems with storage capacity between 25 litres and 700 litres. Split system and integrated models are both covered under the same performance criteria.
Which products are excluded
Commercial systems above 700 litres, solar-assisted heat pump systems, and units designed primarily for space heating with incidental water heating functions remain outside the scope of these regulations.
Market impact assessment
According to EECA, the stricter standards will remove approximately 40 models from the current market of 130 registered heat pump water heaters. Industry analysis suggests this will consolidate market share among premium manufacturers while potentially increasing retail prices by 8-12% for entry-level systems.
Registration requirements
Suppliers must submit new registration applications for existing models that require firmware or hardware modifications to meet the updated standards. The registration database will be updated to reflect compliance status by June 2026.
Enforcement and penalties
EECA will conduct market surveillance testing from August 2026, with penalties of up to $200,000 for companies selling non-compliant products. Retailers have until September 2026 to clear existing stock that fails to meet the new requirements.
