Electricity Authority work programme for 2013/14

The Authority has published its work programme for 2013/14, which incorporates feedback from consultation undertaken during 24 September 2012 to 2 November 2012.

The Authority is flexible and responsive in how it manages its work programme. In the normal course of events it is anticipated that reprioritisation will be required during the year, for example as the information available about a specific project develops. The Authority will review and update its work programme on a regular basis, and will publish summary reports on progress on a quarterly basis.

• The work programme
• Explanation of the Authority’s planning process, including the steps leading to publication of the work programme

Industry forum on proposed arrangements to manage a retailer default situation and the settlement and prudential security review

The Authority will hold an industry forum on the consultation papers titled ‘Arrangements to manage a retailer default situation’ and the ‘Settlement and prudential security review’.  The purpose of the forum is to assist consultation submitters to understand the proposals for changes to these components of the wholesale electricity market.

The forum will be held at the Authority on Thursday 18 July 2013, starting at 9:30am and ending at 3:00pm.  Anyone wishing to attend the forum should email conference@ea.govt.nz , by Monday 15 July 2013, with ‘Retailer default /SPSR Briefing’ in the subject line.

• Arrangements to manage a retailer default situation
• Settlement and prudential security review. All appendices and a spread sheet to assist submitters in exploring details of settlements under both the weekly and monthly proposals.  This spread sheet will be of particular assistance in detailing how the partial net settlement process would work where one or more participants have defaulted on a settlement day.

Industrial co-generator application from Norske Skog Tasman

Norske Skog Tasman Ltd has submitted an application to the Authority for the four generators at its Kawarau site to be approved as an industrial co-generator. The application is being assessed by the Authority in accordance with Schedule 13.4 of the Code. Any views should be made to the Authority by 5pm on 12 July 2013

• An updated register of generators approved as industrial co-generators has been published

Generation project update - June 2013

An update has been published on generation projects in development and future proposals.

• Generation update

Current consultations

Pricing in a pivotal supplier situation

The Wholesale Advisory Group (WAG) seeks feedback from interested parties on a discussion paper entitled:  ‘Pricing in pivotal supplier situations’.  The discussion paper considers options for achieving efficient spot market prices during pivotal supplier situations, which is important for enhancing competition in the retail electricity market. The WAG will consider submissions from interested parties before providing advice and recommendations to the Authority.

• Pricing in pivotal supplier situations discussion paper

Started 28/5/2013; Ending 9/7/2013 5.00 pm

Temporary changes to the configuration of the grid

The Authority is seeking feedback on a proposal to amend the Code to enable Transpower to make temporary changes to grid configuration in certain situations. The proposed Code amendment replaces a temporary Code amendment that expires in December 2013 and was introduced to promote efficient levels of reliability.

• Consultation on temporary changes to the configuration of the grid

Started: 11/6/2013; Ending 23/7/2013, 5.00 pm.

Within-island basis risk (WIBR)

The Authority is seeking feedback on a consultation paper ‘Within-island basis risk: proposed approach’ which proposes a multi-point FTR as the preferred approach to assist participants to manage their within-island basis risk. The proposal is based on feedback received from the Locational Price Risk Technical Group and is a key initiative for further enhancing competition in the retail electricity market.

• Within-island basis risk (WIBR)

Started 25/6/2013; Ending 6/8/2013 5.00 pm

Settlement and Prudential Security Review

The Authority is seeking feedback on a proposal to amend the Code to improve the wholesale market settlement and prudential security system.  The proposed Code amendments are substantially based on the work of the Wholesale Advisory Group, and take into account feedback received from the Settlement and Prudential Security Technical Group.  The proposals in this paper are important for enhancing competition in the retail electricity market.

• Settlement and prudential security review: consultation paper

Started: 18/06/2013; Ending: 20/08/2013, 5:00pm.

Arrangements to manage a retailer default situation

The Authority is seeking feedback on a proposal to amend the Code to establish arrangements for managing a situation where an electricity retailer does not meet its financial obligations or becomes insolvent (a retailer default situation). The Authority is also proposing to introduce guidelines describing the detailed processes and actions that would be taken if there is a retailer default situation.

• Arrangements to manage a retailer default situation

Started: 18/06/2013, Ending: 20/08/2013 5:00pm