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Consultation on proposed availability and reliability index measures – interconnection asset services

The rules for interconnection asset services in section VI of part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 (Interconnection Rules) set out a framework for the regulation of interconnection asset services.  This includes an obligation on Transpower New Zealand Limited (Transpower) to make interconnection assets available in accordance with specified service measures and levels, and to maintain the grid in a specified configuration.

The detailed service measures and levels, and grid configuration were not set out in the Interconnection Rules when they came into force.  Instead, the Interconnection Rules provide a process whereby they are provided by Transpower, reviewed by the Commission and then recommended to the Minister of Energy and Resources for inclusion as schedules to the Interconnection Rules.

On 25 September 2009, the Commission published a paper “proposed availability and reliability index measures – interconnection asset services” for consultation as part of the Commission’s review of the index measures.

The closing date for submissions on the consultation paper was 5pm on Friday 16 October 2009. The Commission received 7 submissions.


Draft Connection Code, Outage Protocol and Interconnection Service Measures published for consultation (October 2007)

Before the benchmark agreement can take effect, the Connection Code, Outage Protocol and Interconnection Service Measures must be added to the Rules.

Pursuant to a request from the Commission, Transpower has provided to the Commission

  • a proposed draft Connection Code (to be added as Schedule 8 of the benchmark agreement); and
  • proposed draft Outage Protocol (to be added as a schedule to section VII of part F of the Rules).

In addition, in accordance with the Interconnection Rules, Transpower has provided a proposed Interconnection Service Measures to the Commission (to be added as schedule F6 of section VI of part F of the Rules).

The Commission published for consultation:

Comments were sought by the Commission by midday on Thursday 22 November 2007.

The Commission received:


Final decision paper for the Benchmark Agreement and the Interconnection Rules (May 2007)

The Commission has previously undertaken a considerable amount of analysis of its proposals against section 172F of the Electricity Act 1992 (Act). The analysis of the Commission’s original proposals is contained in:

Some of the Commission’s proposals have been changed or clarified as a result of the consultation process, the Commission’s subsequent consideration of the proposals and the feedback received.

The clarifications and changes are relatively minor in nature, and the Commission considers that the previous analysis under section 172F of the proposal still stands. Some changes are more significant, requiring a new or revised assessment against section 172F of the Act. Also, in some cases, even where the proposals have not changed, it is necessary to update the Commission’s initial section 172F analysis.

Accordingly, the Commission has published a paper that:

The Rule change was recommended to the Minister on the 21 May 2007 and subsequently gazetted on 31 May 2007.

 

Final draft decision paper for proposed benchmark agreement and interconnection rules

Over the last three years, the Commission has undertaken extensive consultation on proposals relating to the determination of transmission contract counterparties, the structure of transmission agreements, and the preparation of the benchmark agreement itself. It is currently seeking drafting comments on these proposals. 

The Commission has previously undertaken a considerable amount of analysis of these proposals against section 172F of the Electricity Act 1992 (Act) as part of the process to recommend changes to the Electricity Governance Rules 2003. The analysis of the Commission’s original proposals is contained in:

Some of the Commission’s proposals have been changed or clarified as a result of the consultation process, the Commission’s subsequent consideration of the proposals, and the feedback received.

In many cases, the clarifications and changes are relatively minor in nature, and the Commission considers that the previous analysis under section 172F of the proposal still stands. In other cases, the changes are more significant, requiring a new or revised assessment against section 172F of the Act. Also, in some cases, even where the proposals have not changed, it is necessary to update the Commission’s initial section 172F analysis.

Accordingly, the Commission has today published a paper that:

  • outlines any changes to the proposals set out in the:
    • Benchmark Agreement Consultation Paper and draft Benchmark Agreement;
    • Interconnection Rules Consultation Paper and draft Interconnection Rules; and
    • Summary of submissions and provisional response to submissions on the draft Benchmark Agreement and draft Interconnection Rules; and
  • augments, revises or replaces the analysis against section 172F of the Act presented in the above papers to reflect changes or clarifications to the proposals and the Commission’s additional considerations as a result of the consultation process.


Drafting comments on the benchmark agreement and interconnection rules

The Commission is seeking drafting comments on the final form of the recommendations to be made to the Minister of Energy. These recommendations will include:
  • the draft benchmark agreement;
  • the interconnection rules (including the Outage Protocol rules);
  • proposed amendments to part F of the Rules, and
  • new definitions for part A of the Rules.


Call for cross-submissions on draft Benchmark Agreement and proposed interconnection rules

The Commission has carried out an initial consideration of the submissions received on:

The Commission decided to invite cross-submissions from interested parties on the submissions received by it in response to the two consultation papers.


Interconnection rules

The Commission proposed in the Benchmark Agreement Consultation Paper that the Benchmark Agreement apply to connection services and interconnection information services, and that interconnection asset services be dealt with in the Rules.

In June 2006, the Commission published a paper that provides the formal consultation on the Commission’s proposal for interconnection asset services. This paper also sets out, in full, the Commission’s proposed Rules for the preparation of an outage protocol. The proposed outage protocol Rules were briefly referred to in the Benchmark Agreement Consultation Paper.

Last update on 20 October 2009 03:46 PM