Background

On 29 May 2009, Transpower New Zealand Limited (Transpower) submitted to the Electricity Commission a reliability investment for approval under rule 13 of section III of part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003. The investment is part of the 2008 Grid Upgrade Plan.

Transpower’s application (29 May 2009)

Transpower has submitted the Marsden Substation Investment Proposal as a reliability investment. The proposal involves the upgrading of the Marsden 220kV and 110kV buses with bus couplers and duplicate two-zone protection. Transpower seeks approval of up to $6.4 million for the proposal

• Transpower's letter dated 29 May 2009 pdf [187 KB]
• Marsden Substation Investment Proposal pdf [437 KB]
• Attachment A P90 funding calculation xls [298 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 proposals with an opportunity to:

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

Comments and/or requests were sought by the Commission by 5.00 pm on Friday, 26 June 2009. The Commission received 3 submissions.

• Submissions received
  

Timetable

On 8 June 2009, the Commission and Transpower agreed on a timetable for consultation and approval of the Marsden Substation investment proposal

• Timetable pdf [24 KB]

Notice of Intention (03 July 2009)

On 3 July 2009, the Commission published a notice of intention to approve the Marsden Substation Investment Proposal.

• Notice of intention pdf [428 KB]
  

Reasons for decision (03 July 2009)

The document below presents the Commission’s analysis of the Marsden Substation Investment Proposal and explains the reasons supporting the Commissions intention to approve the proposal.

• Reasons for Decision - 3 July 2009 pdf [220 KB]
  

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 17 July 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 – Marsden Substation 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 Marsden Substation Investment Proposal, therefore the Commission’s decision is to approve the Marsden Substation Investment proposal is final.