Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko

Today we approved an exemption to Part 6A of the Electricity Industry Participation Code, allowing electricity distributor WEL Networks to install two new solar power arrays and a battery storage system on their own network in the Waikato. This will provide just under 64MW worth of energy that can be stored and released into the market, as and when the region needs it most. Encouraging and enabling investment in local electricity generation is critical to building regional resilience. Considering and processing exemptions to the Code is a way that the Authority can enable market participants to invest in solutions that benefit electricity consumers (but would otherwise fall outside the current regulatory environment) and to test these investments and opportunities in the real world. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gf6s7XzE

Sarah Gillies on the important role local power generation plays in building regional resilience #energyfuture #electricityindustry

Thanks to all those who attended our recent metering equipment provider and test house forum in Wellington. It was an important opportunity to share our latest Code and compliance work and discuss relevant issues. Our thanks to the approved auditors who joined us and shared the challenges and opportunities faced by participants and the Authority. During the day we provided an update on the Authority’s ‘Code omnibus and review programme’, compliance principles, improvements to the audit portal and our compliance work programme. Thanks to attendees for your feedback - we look forward to hosting the forum again in 2025!

We want to improve the way we collect information from electricity retailers to help us monitor the electricity industry and improve outcomes for consumers. We also want to improve our processes so it’s easier for retailers to provide the data we need. Today we opened a consultation to seek feedback on our proposals. It's an important step in a multi-year project to improve protections for consumers and better hold retailers to account.   Have your say! Let us know your feedback on this consultation by 22 October 2024.   You can learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/geKXAc2T

The demands on New Zealand's electricity distribution networks are changing. Distributors are facing more and increasingly complex requests to connect to their networks – particularly for large electricity users like public EV charging stations, and generators like solar and wind farms.   Later this month, the Authority is scheduled to release two consultation papers with proposals to make connecting to distribution networks easier, faster, and more cost efficient.   We want to ensure regulations are fit-for-purpose and better serve consumers, distribution businesses and those wanting to connect to the network.   You can learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gMk8Zem2

Calling all electricity innovators! We’re offering you access to quick, no-cost regulatory advice and support to help bring your ideas to market faster.   If you submit your idea by 18 October 2024, you can be considered for a full regulatory-support programme trial.   We want to boost innovation in the sector and can’t wait to hear from you!   You can learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gB8yjRkh   #innovation #electricityindustry #energyfuture

📢⚡We’re excited to announce the appointment of 8 members to our new Standardised Flexibility Products Co-design Group. Congratulations to Karl Arns, Tim Boyce, Matthew Carnachan, Shaun Goldsbury, Nick Haines, Michael Jefferson, Paul Morrison and James Tipping. We're looking forward to working together to develop flexibility products for the wholesale electricity market. These products will help ensure new generators and independent retailers can enter, and better compete in the renewables market, ensuring consumers benefit from more reliable and affordable electricity. You can learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gqYNwAEA #wholesaleelectricity #innovation #riskmanagement

The Electricity Authority's next quarterly update will be on Thursday 10 October, 9.00-10.30am. Our Chief Executive, Sarah Gillies, will kick off the session with an update on how the Authority has reprioritised its work programme. This will be followed by the latest on the Energy Competition Task Force, delivery of the Market Development Advisory Group’s recommendations to strengthen the wholesale market, new Power Innovation Pathway and industry education programme. Register today and share with your networks: https://lnkd.in/g_Gdh2xp We look forward to you joining us! #quarterlyupdate #electricityindustry  

Today Minister for Energy Simeon Brown released the Electricity Authority’s report into the collapse of a Northland transmission tower on 20 June 2024 that left 88,000 customers without power. A tower collapsing during routine maintenance should not happen. Our report identifies what went wrong. It puts forward 26 recommendations to improve processes, documentation, training and assurance, and the importance of regional resilience at a system-wide level. At the heart of our review is security of electricity supply – its criticality to consumers and businesses – and how to prevent such events. We hope our recommendations ensure lessons are learnt, actions taken to mitigate similar events, and this ultimately leads to better outcomes for all electricity consumers. #securityofsupply #consumers #regionalresilience

Are you an expert in electricity retailer switching, information exchange and/or reconciliation processes? If so we’d love to hear from you. We’re calling for nominations to our Switch and Data Formats Group. This Group will provide technical advice to the Electricity Authority to ensure information and switching processes remain efficient and fit for purpose as the industry evolves. Nominations are invited by 5pm, 8 October 2024. You can find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gEniHTUc #callfornominations #electricityindustry