Feedback published: Improving transparency of consumers’ electricity charges
The Authority has published the feedback it received on draft guidelines for retailers’ and distributors’ communications about price changes with media and consumers.
The Authority considers that improving transparency of consumers’ electricity charges would promote competition. It would also enhance the durability of the electricity market by reducing consumers’ confusion about the reasons for price changes and by improving consumers’ confidence and level of engagement in the electricity market.
Feedback published: Enabling a national market for instantaneous reserve
The Authority considers that enabling a national market would promote its statutory objective by increasing competition between instantaneous reserve providers in each island. It will also reduce the quantity of instantaneous reserve procured, benefitting consumers by deferring investment in new capacity.
The Authority has published feedback it has received on its proposal to make changes that would enable a national market for instantaneous reserve.
Response to submissions and next steps: More standardisation of use-of-system agreements
The Authority has published its response to submissions and next steps for the more standardisation of use-of-system agreements project.
The Authority has decided to proceed with developing a Code amendment proposal for its preferred option of establishing a default UoSA, but will make a final decision to amend the Code next year. In the meantime, the Authority expects distributors and retailers to continue to negotiate UoSAs comparable to the key components of the existing MUoSA. If this occurs then amending the Code may not deliver net benefits and the Authority would reconsider its decision to amend the Code.
The Authority considers that more standardised use-of-system agreements would promote the Authority’s statutory objective by reducing transaction costs for retailers and distributors, and by improving the conditions that would lead to enhanced retail competition across more network areas in New Zealand.
Code Amendment: Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Distributed Generation) 2014
The Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Distributed Generation) 2014 came into force on 23 February 2015.
The amendments that came into force on 23 February 2015 include substantial amendments to Parts 1, 6 and 11 with minor amendments to Parts 8, 10, 12, 12A, 13, 14, 15 and 17.
Transpower has submitted several Code change proposals that would have the effect of amending the TPM. The proposals arose out of Transpower’s operational review. The Authority will consider the proposals according to the process prescribed in the Code.
Professor Ingo Vogelsang lecture slides and video available
The Authority recently hosted Professor Ingo Vogelsang (Boston University) to New Zealand, in conjunction with the Commerce Commission.
Professor Vogelsang’s presentation, which looked at regulatory similarities and differences between the electricity and telecommunications industries, is now available in slide or video format.
