Retail data project decisions and reasons paper published
We have published the decisions and reasons paper on the retail data project: access to tariff and connection data consultation.
We have decided to amend the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 (Code) to require electricity retailers to provide their generally available retail tariff plans to any person who requests them. The Code amendment is scheduled to come into effect on 1 February 2016.
Consumers’ connection data held in the registry will be made publicly available from the same date; in line with, but unrelated to, the Code amendment. Having access to connection data will allow consumers or their agents to identify retailers’ tariff plans that are applicable to a given connection.
Consumers will also get access to their electricity consumption data on 1 February 2016, when the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Access to Retail Data) 2014 comes into force. Having access to tariff, connection and consumption data will enable consumers, or their agents, to ‘cut through complexity’ and confidently, easily and quickly search out the best electricity deal for their circumstances.
These initiatives will enhance retail competition and thus promote the competition limb of our statutory objective.
For any questions or queries relating to the retail data project please contact Todd Collings, Programme and Procurement Manager at todd.collings@ea.govt.nz.
Reminder about nominations to the Security and Reliability Council
Nominations close at 5pm today for members of the Security and Reliability Council (SRC).
The SRC provides independent advice to the Authority on reliability of supply issues and on the performance of the electricity system and the system operator. The SRC comprises senior members of the New Zealand electricity industry, including consumers and former employees of industry members. We are required to ensure that, between them, the members of the SRC have appropriate knowledge and experience of the electricity industry to provide independent advice to the Authority.
We are keen to ensure the 2016 membership intake includes members who:
possess expertise with thermal, hydro or wind generation
bring the perspective of industrial consumers, including consumers directly connected to the national grid.
The expected term of appointment is three years. We intend to appoint the successful nominees in March 2016.
Please email nominations and accompanying documents (as described on the nomination form) to info@ea.govt.nz, with 'Nomination for SRC membership' in the subject line by 5pm today.
RFP for Registry Manager Market Operations Service Provider role
We have given advance notice to potential respondents via the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) that we propose to issue an RFP for the Registry Manager Market Operations Service Provider role.
We have also given notice that we will be facilitating an RFP by Gas Industry Co for its Gas Registry Operator role. To leverage the potential benefit of a single provider performing both roles, Gas Industry Co will collaborate with, and tender at the same time as, the Electricity Authority.
We expect to publish the documents for the RFPs on GETS around January 2016. To avoid any doubt, in issuing the advance notice, neither the Electricity Authority nor Gas Industry Co is undertaking any procurement of goods or services at this stage, nor do we require any response to the advance notice.
We are proposing a number of changes to the participant audit regime. The consultation paper proposes amendments to the Code, amendments to existing guidelines, and the creation of new guidelines.
We have released a consultation paper, and a supporting companion paper, on the implications of evolving technologies for the pricing of distribution services.
