We have published a decision paper, summary of submissions, and updated guidelines following consultation on our Review of the wholesale market information disclosure regime.

We have decided to amend the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 (Code) to enhance the disclosure of wholesale market information (WMI) by:

• replacing the ‘commercial disadvantage’ exclusion from disclosing information to the public in clause 13.2A(2) of the Code with a ‘reasonable person’ exclusion 
• revising the timeframe for addressing misleading, deceptive, or incorrect information under Part 13 of the Code. 

The Code amendment will promote competition, reliability, and efficiency in the electricity industry by:

• reducing uncertainty and the costs of obtaining information
• encouraging greater participation (particularly in the hedge market)
• improving the amount of information disclosed, which will:
  - enable more informed market participation 
  - support security of supply through improved investment and operational decisions.

We have also updated the guidelines to help participants meet their WMI disclosure obligations. 

The amended Code provisions will come into force on 21 June 2018. 

The decision paper, summary of submissions, updated guidelines, Code amendment, and Gazette notice are available on our website.

• Decision paper 
• Summary of submissions
• Updated guidelines
• Gazette notice and Code amendment

We have published a decision paper and summary of submissions on our review of two aspects of the customer compensation scheme arrangements in Part 9 of the Code. 

We have decided to amend the Code so retailers will now be required to compensate their qualifying customers during a public conservation period only for the days the retailer supplies those customers.

The Code amendment will promote competition, reliability, and efficiency in the electricity industry by:

• removing a disincentive for retailers to compete for customers during a public conservation period
• removing a source of distortion in retailers’ economic decision-making
• removing an incentive for retailers to recover the cost of paying compensation to customers for days when the retailers did not supply the customers.

The Code amendment will come into force on 28 June 2018.

The decision paper and summary of submissions are available on our website.

• Decision paper
• Summary of submissions

We understand some participants are developing new generating technologies involving power electronics controlled devices, such as battery energy storage systems (BESS).  Where these are grid-connected, participants may be required to make offers in the wholesale market. 

Our view is that injection from a BESS meets the definition of a generating unit in Part 1 of the Code for the purposes of offering energy under Part 13 of the Code. One consequence of a BESS being treated as a generating unit is that it would be required to comply with Part 8 of the Code. A BESS owner would need to apply for dispensations from obligations it was not able to meet, eg, governor settings. 

Regarding instantaneous reserve offers, we consider a BESS owner would be able to offer interruptible load while charging a BESS, but not offer its injection capacity as a form of reserve response. Injection capacity from a BESS has different properties to the existing forms of reserve. Performance requirements and supporting Code amendments would need to be developed before offers can be made. We have recently started investigating these requirements.

The Authority will run its winter WMN campaign from 10 June to 31 August 2018. Campaign advertising will involve the following media channels:

• television
• digital (online)
• out of home advertising 
• public relations.

We will continue to work with our partner Consumer NZ.

Permitting ATHs to amend certification reports

In December 2017, we made an urgent Code amendment to enable approved test houses (ATHs) to amend certification reports for a metering installation or a metering component. In certain circumstances this would avoid the need to recertify. The urgent Code amendment expires on 12 October 2018. We propose amending the Code so the effect of the urgent amendment would continue past this date. 

• Consultation paper

Started: 24/04/2018; Ending: 05/06/2018 5pm

Draft determination of the causer of the 9 February 2018 under-frequency event

We have published a consultation paper on our draft determination of the causer of the 9 February 2018 under-frequency event. 

• Consultation paper

Started: 15/05/2018; Ending: 12/06/2018 5pm

Market Development Advisory Group (MDAG) Saves and win-backs issues paper

The MDAG is seeking feedback on its Saves and win-backs issues paper. The Saves and win-backs project considers whether to amend the Code in response to the Authority’s August 2017 post-implementation review of the 'saves' Code provisions.

• Consultation paper

Started: 22/05/2018; Ending: 29/06/2018 5pm

Proposed list of distributed generation eligible to qualify to receive ACOT in the lower North Island

We are seeking views on the proposed list of distributed generation in the lower North Island that would be eligible under the regulated terms in Part 6 of the Code to receive avoided cost of transmission (ACOT) payments from distributors.

• Consultation paper

Started: 22/05/2018; Ending: 03/07/2018 5pm