Electricity Authority and Utilities Disputes - Memorandum of Understanding

On 8 March 2022, the Electricity Authority (the Authority) and Utilities Disputes Ltd (UDL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to formalise a working arrangement to ensure assistance and cooperation in the performance of their respective roles and functions.

UDL operates the approved energy complaints scheme and has a statutory purpose under clause 1 of schedule 4 of the Electricity Industry Act 2010. UDL provides a free and independent complaints resolution scheme if a dispute between a consumer and an electricity provider is unable to be resolved. UDL is funded by industry participants and all electricity retailers and distributors must be part of the scheme. This ensures that UDL’s services remain free to consumers. Both the Authority and UDL work in common interest areas relating to the improvement of the experience of consumer’s involvement with the electricity industry.

This MoU will ensure effective communication and cooperation, sharing of information where possible, and use of the best endeavours to facilitate the resolution of any issue in a timely manner.

Authority response to GIC report

The Gas Industry Company’s report to the Minister of Energy and Resources on gas market settings provides advice in the context of New Zealand’s path to a net zero emissions economy by 2050 and the Government’s commitment to transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2030. The Electricity Authority would like to acknowledge the report and the risks and recommendations highlighted within its response below.

Climate Change Commission

We welcome the Climate Change Commission’s publication of its draft advice. The Commission’s draft advice represents a watershed moment for New Zealand, setting out a blueprint for how our country can transition to a low-emissions economy that serves New Zealanders for many generations to come.  We encourage you to read our submission.

Commerce Commission

The Electricity Authority and Commerce Commission want to better understand whether the current regulatory arrangements are fit-for-purpose and able to support the best possible outcomes for consumers in the long-term.

Memorandum of understanding 

Project update

The Spotlight on emerging contestable services project – a joint initiative of the Authority and Commerce Commission – is pausing while the Commission focuses on projects with statutory deadlines, including the price-quality path resets for electricity distributors and Transpower.

The Authority and Commission believe the spotlight project is important, and we appreciate the interest and engagement stakeholders have provided to date. We expect to restart work once the price-quality path resets are complete.

Event

We held a workshop on Tuesday 28 May 2019 as part of the Spotlight on Emerging Contestable Services project. We wanted to establish a shared understanding of the circumstances where distributors’ activities in new markets relying on emerging technologies will deliver long-term benefits to consumers. 

Workshop

 

Submissions

Submission on Authority-Commission joint project Terms of Reference
Spotlight on Emerging Contestable Services - April 2019