Transmission to enable renewables [Closing date: 2008/02/01 17:00:00 GMT+13]

The Commission is inviting comments on the draft reports on hydro, wind and geothermal generation prepared by Consultants and the Commission. 

• Draft hydro report pdf [445 KB] This report presents the results of the desk top study  used to produce a short list of the “most economic” hydropower projects and from that short list, to develop updated cost estimates for up to 10 of the sites to a conceptual level. The report includes a brief description of the projects, the assumptions and reasons for selection of the projects on the short list and then the results of the updated capital costing studies for each of the projects.
• Draft geothermal report pdf [522 KB]. This report include a brief description of the existing, committed and highly likely schemes in New Zealand and provide a short and long term forecast of geothermal generation (up to 2025).
• Draft wind study report pdf [966 KB]. This report presents an approach to defining the useable wind resource on an aggregated basis using advanced mesoscale meteorological modelling techniques combined with terrain analysis using advanced GIS tools. At this stage, due to time constraints, only the North Island has been modelled.

Relevant comments received in writing and at the 17 December 2007 workshop, will be considered in preparing in the final reports. The Commission anticipates that comments will not only cover the data per se but, also the approach taken by Consultants and the Commission on this project.

The Commission is providing interested parties with an opportunity to provide written comments on the draft reports. To assist the Commission in its consideration, please supply evidence of facts to support your views wherever possible.

Comments must be received by the Commission by no later than 5 pm on 1 February 2008.

Please note that comments received after this deadline are unlikely to be considered.

The Commission’s preference is to receive comments in electronic form (Microsoft Word).  It is not necessary for parties to send the Commission hard copies of their comments, unless it is not possible to do so electronically.  Comments in electronic form should be emailed with 'Transmission to enable renewables' in the subject header. 

Comments should be sent to:

info@electricitycommission.govt.nz

Amy Henderson
Electricity Commission
Level 7, ASB Bank Tower
2 Hunter Street
PO Box 10041
Wellington 6143

Tel: 04 460 8860
Fax: 04 460 8879

The Commission will acknowledge receipt of all comments by email.  Please contact Amy Henderson at the Commission if you do not receive acknowledgement of your comments and/or requests within two business days.

To foster an informed and transparent process, the Commission intends to publish all comments and/or requests received on its website.

If your comments contain confidential material, please provide the Commission with both confidential and public versions of your comments, in both electronic and hard copy forms.  The responsibility for ensuring that confidential information is not included in a public version of comments rests entirely with the party making the comments.

Parties should note that the contents of comments provided to the Commission will be among the information the Commission holds which is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).

If the Commission receives a request for the release of information contained in comments, it will be required to consider the release of those comments, in whole or in part, in terms of the criteria set out in the OIA.  This would be done in consultation with the party providing the comments.  The Commission can withhold official information in certain circumstances.  The grounds for the Commission withholding official information are set out in the OIA.  Any decision by the Commission to withhold information is subject to appeal to the Ombudsman.