Review of consultation charter
The Authority’s consultation charter is one of its foundation documents and includes the Authority’s Code Amendment Principles (CAPs).
After two years in operation, the Authority has reviewed the consultation charter, along with the CAPs, and noted they have worked well in practice.
However, the review showed that a small number of minor improvements should be made. These include:
• confirming the Authority now usually allocates six weeks for consultation, rather than four weeks
• the obligation on interested parties to avail themselves of the opportunity to provide feedback has been added to the general consultation principles
• minor changes to the descriptions of CAPs 1, 2 and 3 to make them clearer and read more like principles
• the word ‘quantitative’ has been deleted from the tie-breakers in the CAPs to make it clearer the tie-breakers equally apply if a qualitative cost-benefit analysis is inconclusive
The revised consultation charter is available on the Authority’s website at:
www.ea.govt.nz/about-us/documents-publications/foundation-documents/
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Model use-of-system agreements: feedback sought on uptake and implementation
In September 2012 the Authority finalised and published model use-of-system agreements (MUoSAs) for interposed and conveyance distributor/retailer arrangements, and a set of drafting guidelines for adapting these agreements for use with embedded networks. The greater standardisation of distribution arrangements is expected to improve competition and efficiency for the long-term benefit of consumers, and was a requirement under section 42 of the Electricity Industry Act 2010.
It was anticipated the publishing of the MUoSAs would initiate significant participant activity as distributors and retailers engage in UoSA negotiations. The MUoSAs were expected to form a robust starting point for these negotiations, and the Authority is optimistic that a significant improvement in the level of standardisation of distribution commercial arrangements and inter-business processes would eventuate in the coming years. The Authority has noted it will now move into a period of monitoring of the uptake and effectiveness of the model agreements.
One component of this monitoring programme was the establishment of a feedback channel to enable the Authority to keep abreast of any MUoSA issues uncovered by participants, including when participants are unable to agree a UoSA based on the relevant model agreement. The Authority is becoming aware that some significant deviations from the MUoSA are now emerging, so is proceeding to open that feedback channel. Participants are invited to provide their feedback on MUoSA issues through the submissions@ea.govt.nz mailbox, with ‘MUoSA feedback’ in the subject line.
More information on the Authority’s intended monitoring activities, including its approach to the feedback that it receives, is available in the September 2012 ‘Information paper and summary of submissions’ available at:
www.ea.govt.nz/our-work/programmes/market/consumer-rights-policy/model-arrangements/distribution-tariff/#gazetted.
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Transmission pricing methodology: questions and answers workshop
As announced in previous Market Briefs, the Authority intends to hold a questions and answers workshop on 7 February 2013 at Civic Suites 1 and 2 in the Wellington Town Hall, 111 Wakefield Street, Wellington, starting at 10:30 am. Anyone wishing to submit a question or attend the workshop should email conference@ea.govt.nz with ‘TPM Q&A workshop’ in the subject line no later than 5pm on 25 January 2013.
The Authority has received no questions to date. If no questions have been submitted by 25 January 2013 the workshop will be cancelled.
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Security of supply policy documentation
There have been several documents published recently on the Authority website relating to security of supply policy.
The replacement Emergency Management Policy (EMP) is incorporated by reference into the Code and came into force on 13 December 2012.
www.ea.govt.nz/act-code-regs/code-regs/code-changes/incorporated-docs/
In July 2012 the Authority consulted on the winter energy and capacity security of supply standards to be used by the system operator in its Annual Security Assessment (ASA). The amended standards came into force on 20 December 2012. The Authority has published a Decisions and Reasons document to provide a straightforward explanation of the amended standards.
www.ea.govt.nz/industry/security-of-supply/security-of-supply-policies/
That consultation process has also established a new requirement for the system operator to use the assumptions set out in the Authority’s Security Standards Assumptions Document when completing the ASA.
www.ea.govt.nz/industry/security-of-supply/security-of-supply-policies/
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Part 10 implementation: registry training for metering equipment providers
The Authority is holding a registry training course for metering equipment providers (MEPs) on Monday, 18 February 2013 in Christchurch, and on Wednesday, 20 February 2013 in Auckland, from 9.00am to 4.30pm. The course will provide an overview of the registry and its new MEP functionality, and is intended for people who may become MEPs, or their agents, under the new Part 10.
The course will cover an overview of registry operations, interfaces and security, as well as the new MEP role and switching process. The training schedule is available at:
www.ea.govt.nz/our-work/programmes/priority-projects/part-10-review/part10-implementation/registry-training
Prospective attendees should register by sending their details and the course they would like to attend (i.e. Christchurch or Auckland) to conference@ea.govt.nz with 'Part 10 registry training for MEPs' in the subject line by 5pm on Tuesday, 12 February. Numbers will be limited.
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Part 10 implementation: Part 10 registry testing
Test registry available for participants’ system testing
The new Part 10 registry will be available in test mode from 16 January to 22 February 2013 to assist participants to complete their own system testing prior to formal user acceptance testing (UAT) of the new Part 10 registry. Information on how to access the test environment and notify any issues has been provided directly to Part 10 project contacts. If you have not received this information, please contact marketoperations@ea.govt.nz.
Draft participant test plan
The Authority is seeking feedback on a draft test plan for participant UAT of the new Part 10 registry. The draft test plan and scenarios are available at:
www.ea.govt.nz/our-work/programmes/priority-projects/part-10-review/part10-implementation/participant-uat/
Feedback should be provided to RegistryPart10UAT@assurity.co.nz and marketoperations@ea.govt.nz, by Friday, 8 February 2013.
Registrations for registry UAT
Organisations intending to participate in UAT of the new Part 10 registry should register with the Authority by 31 January 2013 by emailing the contact details of their Project Manager and Test Manager (or other primary/secondary contacts) to marketoperations@ea.govt.nz
Part 10 registry UAT is scheduled to start on 5 March 2013.
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Current consultations
Transmission pricing methodology review; issues and proposal
The Authority is reviewing the transmission pricing methodology (TPM), which specifies the method for Transpower to recover costs of providing transmission services.
The consultation paper is available at:
www.ea.govt.nz/our-work/consultations/priority-projects/tpm-issues-oct12/
Started: 10/10/2012. Ending: 01/03/2013, 5pm.
Proposed Code amendments to the new metering rules and Part 11
The Authority is proposing amendments to the Electricity Participation Code 2010 to address various issues that have been identified in the process of preparing to implement the new metering rules.
The consultation paper is available at:
www.ea.govt.nz/our-work/consultations/priority-projects/metering-rules-part-11/
Started: 17/12/2012. Ending 15/02/2013, 5pm.
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