Commission plans to publish draft decision

9 March 2006

Commission plans to publish draft decision on proposed 400kV Waikato-South Auckland transmission line in April

The Electricity Commission expects to release its draft decision on whether to approve national grid operator Transpower’s proposed Whakamaru to Otahuhu 400kV transmission line in late April, chair Roy Hemmingway announced today.

“The commission is well advanced with its assessment of Transpower’s 400kV grid upgrade proposal and much of our comprehensive analysis on the alternative options is now nearing completion,” said Mr Hemmingway.

“The commission had anticipated releasing an interim decision during March in keeping with our projected timeframe. However, there are some details of the analysis we want to examine further before we complete our draft decision. We now expect to publish the draft decision at the end of April.”

“The commission is committed to ensuring a reliable electricity supply to Auckland. Throughout our process of analysing transmission alternatives over the past year we have consulted widely with affected stakeholders in order to reach a thorough and robust conclusion that retains reliable supply to Auckland,” Mr Hemmingway said.

The commission will publish its draft decision in April and then call for submissions from interested parties. This will be followed by a series of public briefings during May in Waikato and South Auckland about the draft decision. It is also intended that the commission will hold public hearings, before the commission reaches its final decision in July 2006. The full timetable for this will be advised at the time the draft decision is announced at the end of April.

ENDS

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