We’re proposing a number of discrete amendments to various parts of the Code. The amendments largely focus on resolving practical problems created by particular Code provisions that impede the efficient operation of the industry. The proposed amendments don’t generally relate to each other, and don’t warrant separate consultation processes. We’re therefore progressing them together as one “omnibus” Code amendment proposal, in one consultation paper.
This paper presents the Authority’s third Code review programme.
The consultation period runs from Tuesday, 16 January 2018 until 5pm on Tuesday, 6 March 2018.
Call for nominations for the Security and Reliability Council
We are calling for nominations for three members of the Security and Reliability Council (SRC). The SRC provides us with independent advice 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.
We are particularly interested in nominations from people who have experience in governance or management roles responsible for:
renewable generation
electricity distribution networks
economic and regulatory analysis.
Nominations close 23 January 2018.
We intend to appoint the successful nominees in March 2018, for an expected term of three years.
We’re running a training course for registry users on 21–22 March in Wellington (9.30am–4.30pm on 21 March and 9am–4.30pm on 22 March). The course is suitable for new registry users and people wanting to gain knowledge of how the registry works.
Areas discussed will be:
operation of the registry and lifecycle of an Installation Control Point (ICP) including the registry roles of distributor, trader and MEP
operation of the reconciliation manager portal to upload and download files, manage trade notifications, and add/edit changes to Network Supply Points (NSP) and balancing areas.
Total attendance numbers are limited. To express interest in attending the course, please email your name and contact details to conference@ea.govt.nz by 5pm Friday, 2 February with “March 2018 registry training” in the subject line. Alternatively, click on the link below.
Please do not book flights and accommodation until you have received confirmation of attendance.
An urgent amendment to insert a new clause 8A into Schedule 10.7 of the Code came into force on 12 January 2018. It enables an approved test house to amend a certification report for a metering installation or metering component in certain circumstances.
The Authority considered it desirable to make the amendment urgently in accordance with section 40 of the Electricity Industry Act 2010 because the amendment:
removes an inefficient barrier to competition by increasing the likelihood that new entrant (and current) retailers will gain access to half hour (HHR) data that is compliant with the Code, without the need to incur costs developing and utilising validation analysis
increases efficiency by eliminating unnecessary metering installation recertification costs in situations where the accuracy of the meter is not compromised
facilitates innovation by enabling new innovative products and services to be introduced to customers, who would otherwise be denied these because they don’t possess Code-compliant HHR data.
Urgent Code amendments do not require consultation, but expire nine months after coming into force.
Transpower is seeking feedback on the Dispatch Service Enhancements Project, which will introduce alternate communications protocols for dispatch management, eventually removing the requirement for participants to use GENCO to receive and acknowledge dispatch instructions.
Transpower will host a workshop on Thursday, 15 February 2018 from 1-4pm to capture stakeholder feedback at its new Wellington office, Waikoukou, at 22 Boulcott St, Wellington.
List of distributed generation eligible to qualify to receive ACOT, lower South Island
We’re seeking views on the list of distributed generation in the lower South Island that we propose would be eligible to receive avoided cost of transmission (ACOT) payments.
We have published a consultation paper on Multiple trading relationships. We have identified potential barriers that may constrain consumers from using electricity services provided by more than one party at the same time, at the same location (multiple trading relationships).
