Background

On 12 March 2009, Transpower New Zealand Limited (Transpower) submitted to the Electricity Commission two reliability investments for approval under rule 13 of section III of part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003. The two investments are part of the 2008 Grid Upgrade Plan.

Transpower’s application (12 March 2009)

Transpower submitted the Bombay Bus Security Investment Proposal ("the Original Proposal") as a reliability investment. The original proposal involved the installation of a bus coupler to the 110kV substation at Bombay and upgrade of the associated protection equipment. Transpower sought approval of up to $4.9 million for the original proposal

• Transpower's letter dated 12 March 2009 pdf [49 KB]
• Bombay Bus Security Investment Proposal pdf [359 KB]
• Attachment A Economic report pdf [232 KB]
  

Opportunity for comment

Under rule 13.3.2 and rule 13.3.5 of section III of part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003, the Commission gave notice to provide designated transmission customers and parties affected by the original proposal with an opportunity to:

• Provide written comments on Transpower’s proposal; and
• Request that the Commission consider alternatives to Transpower’s proposal.
  

Comments and/or requests were sought by the Commission by 5.00 pm on Friday, 3 April 2009. The Commission received 2 submissions.

• submissions received
  

Timetable

On 17 March 2009, the Commission and Transpower agreed on a timetable for consultation and approval of the original proposal.

• Timetable pdf [24 KB]

Withdrawal of application

On 4 May 2009, the Electricity Commission wrote to Transpower with a number of questions regarding the original proposal.

• Letter to Transpower (4 May 2009) pdf [159 KB]
  

Transpower responded on 8 May 2009

• Letter from Transpower (8 May 2009) pdf [47 KB]
  

In its letter Transpower formally withdrew the original proposal. Transpower stated that it would review the application internally and re-submit it addressing the Electricity Commission’s concerns.

Transpower’s resubmission (30 June 2009)

On 30 June 2009, Transpower resubmitted the Bombay 110kV Bus Security Investment Proposal ("the Revised Proposal") as a reliability investment under rule 13 of section III of part F of the rules. The proposal involves the installation of a bus coupler circuit breaker, full local backup protection and bus zone protection measures on the 110kV busbar at Bombay substation. Transpower seeks approval of up to $4.7 million for the revised proposal

• Transpower's letter date 30 June 2009 pdf [126 KB]
• Bombay 110kV Bus Security Investment Proposal (resubmission) pdf [427 KB] 
  
• Attachment A pdf [70 KB]
• Attachment B pdf [3454 KB]
  

Opportunity for comment

Under rule 13.3.2 and rule 13.3.5 of section III of part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003, the Commission gave notice to provide designated transmission customers and parties affected by the revised proposal with an opportunity to:

• Provide written comments on Transpower’s proposal; and
• Request that the Commission consider alternatives to Transpower’s proposal.
  

Comments and/or requests were sought by the Commission by 5.00 pm on Thursday, 23 July 2009. The Commission received 2 submissions.

• Submissions received
  

Timetable

On 14 July 2009, the Commission and Transpower agreed on a timetable for consultation and approval of the Bombay 110kV Bus Security Investment Proposal.

• Timetable pdf [24 KB]

Notice of Intention (14 August 2009)

On 14 August 2009, the Commission published a notice of intention to approve the Bombay 110kV Bus Security Investment Proposal.

• Notice of intention pdf [543 KB]

Reasons for decision (14 August 2009)

The document below presents the Commission’s analysis of the Bombay 110kV Bus Security Investment Proposal and explains the reasons supporting the Commissions intention to approve the proposal.

• Reasons for Decision - 14 August 2009 pdf [237 KB]

The Commission was assisted in its decision making by analysis of the information provided by Transpower undertaken by its staff.

• Key correspondence and supporting analysis
  

Public conference

Under rule 15.2 of section III of part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003, a designated transmission customer, an authorised representative of parties substantially affected by the Grid Upgrade Plan, or Transpower, may, within 10 working days of the date of publication of the notice of intention (that is, by 5pm on 28 August 2009), request that the Commission hold a public conference if they consider that:

• The interests of end use customers are materially adversely affected by the cost or the service outcome of the reliability investment to which the notice relates; or    
• The Grid Investment Test has not been applied properly to the Grid Upgrade Plan
  

The purpose of a public conference is to provide a final opportunity for comment on the reliability investment to which the notice relates.

Parties wishing to request a public conference should contact info@electricitycommission.govt.nz with “public conference – Bombay 110kV Bus Security Investment Proposal" in the subject line.

If no request to hold a public conference is received, or if the Electricity Commission determines not to hold a public conference, the Electricity Commission’s decision, as set out in this notice of intention, is final.

No request for a public conference was received on the Bombay 110kV Bus Security Investment Proposal, therefore the Commission’s decision is to approve the Bombay 110kV Bus Security Investment Proposal is final.