The Future of Electrical Infrastructure: The BASIS Smart Panel
In modern architecture, every element of a home is carefully considered — from the structural materials through to the lighting, heating, and sustainability measures. Yet one of the most critical components of a building has remained largely unchanged for decades: the electrical panel.
Now, a New Zealand innovation is redefining what the switchboard can be. The BASIS Smart Panel, available through ATL Electrical, is more than a distribution board. It is a future-ready electrical infrastructure system that provides unparalleled visibility, safety, and integration for today’s homes.
The demands placed on residential energy systems have never been greater. EV chargers, solar, smart appliances, and increasing reliance on electrification are placing unprecedented load on traditional panels that were designed for a simpler era.
BASIS addresses this by embedding intelligence, safety, and integration directly into the panel itself.
For architects and specifiers, this means offering clients a home that is not only safer but smarter and more sustainable from day one.
Smarter by Design
At its core, BASIS is a complete reimagining of the switchboard. It measures electricity use 20,000 times per second, converts that data into actionable insights, and provides circuit-level control through an intuitive app.
- Retail cost optimiser – Compares your usage against retail power plans and recommends the cheapest option, showing your potential savings.
- Circuit-level monitoring: Identify exactly how much each appliance or zone consumes.
- Remote management: Power circuits on or off from anywhere in the world.
- Load optimisation: Automate usage during off-peak times for significant cost savings.
- Future integration: Ready to connect seamlessly with solar arrays, battery systems, and EV chargers.
- This transforms the panel from a static background utility into an intelligent energy platform.
Tangible Savings, Real Value
While BASIS represents a leap in sophistication, its benefits are highly practical. Early adopters in New Zealand have reported annual household savings of $1,100–$1,400 by simply shifting hot water and appliance use to off-peak periods.
For homeowners investing in high-performance, sustainable homes, these savings complement the long-term value of design-led efficiency. For architects, it provides a demonstrable way to add measurable benefit to the client’s investment.
Safety Elevated
Safety is non-negotiable in architecture — and this is where BASIS sets a new benchmark.
- Advanced arc fault detection: Identifies the leading cause of electrical fires before they become critical.
- Enhanced shock protection: Meets standards typically reserved for schools and childcare facilities, now available for residential use.
- Overload & surge protection: Built-in intelligence ensures appliances and wiring remain safeguarded.
- Remote intervention: Forgotten appliances or unexplained loads can be shut off instantly, even when away from the property.
In practice, BASIS delivers the most advanced residential safety system available in New Zealand, seamlessly embedded within the home’s electrical foundation.
A Platform for Future Living
As New Zealand moves towards greater electrification, BASIS provides a platform that is inherently future-proof.
- Solar & battery-ready for integrated renewable generation.
- EV charger-ready for smarter load management.
- Grid-friendly to participate in emerging smart grid markets.
By specifying BASIS, architects ensure their projects are not only fit for today’s needs but resilient to tomorrow’s shifts in energy.
Through the BASIS Home App, homeowners gain a live dashboard of their energy ecosystem. With automation, alerts, and optimisation tools built in, it allows clients to enjoy the benefits of advanced energy management without complexity.
For designers, the value lies in offering a product that aligns with the expectations of premium clients: elegant technology, seamless integration, and effortless daily use.
For architects, designers, and homeowners seeking to integrate true innovation into the fabric of a home, the BASIS Smart Panel represents a foundational shift.
It is not an accessory or an add-on, but a redefinition of how the home engages with electricity — making it safer, smarter, and more sustainable.
ATL Electrical is proud to be an official certified supplier and installer of BASIS in New Zealand.
Together, we are helping future-focused projects achieve not only design excellence but energy intelligence.