The purpose of Part 3 of the Act and Part 6A and Schedule 6A.1 of the Code  is to promote competition in the electricity industry:

  • by prohibiting a person who is involved in a distributor from being involved in a generator where that may create incentives and opportunities to inhibit competition in the electricity industry; and
  • by restricting relationships between a distributor and a generator or a retailer, where those relationships may not otherwise be at arm's-length.

Prior to 1 November 2010, this function was the responsibility of the Commerce Commission under the Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998 (EIR Act). A list of the decisions made by the Commerce Commission on applications for exemption can be found in the exemptions register (external link)(external link).

All exemptions received after 1 November 2010 can be found on the Authority's register(external link).

Further information on Part 6A and Schedule 6A.1 of the Code can be found under the headings for sections 6A.4 , 6A.7 and 6A.8 of Part 6A of the Code and section 90 of the Act below, or in the Guidelines on Part 3 of the Act and Part 6A and Schedule 6A.1 of the Code below, or by sending an email to our Info box with Separation rules enquiries' in the title.

Email: info@ea.govt.nz