Consultations

An official conservation campaign (OCC) is when Transpower (as the system operator), in accordance with clause 9.23 of the Code, asks consumers to voluntarily reduce their electricity usage. OCCs can be triggered for the South Island only or for the whole country. Earlier this year we asked stakeholders for their broad opinions on whether it is appropriate to have these two types of OCCs.

We believe there is a case to remove provision for South Island-only OCCs, and are now inviting stakeholders to tell us whether they agree. Please respond to this survey to tell us your opinion.

In light of submissions we have already received on this issue and provided we are satisfied there is widespread support for the change, we may then use our power to amend the Code without any further consultation.

We are consulting on the regulatory settings for official conservation campaigns.

This review is being co-ordinated with Transpower’s consultation on its review of the security of supply forecasting and information policy.

The consultations propose various changes, designed to improve the reliability of the system, including:

• the inclusion of contingent hydro storage in hydro risk curves
• setting the start- and stop-triggers for official conservation campaigns
• setting triggers for the release of contingent hydro storage
• using floors to avoid contingent hydro storage being inaccessible.

We have published submissions in response to the review of regulatory settings for official conservation campaigns consultation. Submissions closed on 11 February 2019.