Step forward for electricity supply to Akld

media release
31 January 2007

certainty of electricity supply to Auckland takes a further tentative step forward

The NZ Council for Infrastructure Development welcomes the Electricity Commission’s notice of intention to approve Transpower’s Auckland grid upgrade proposal, but questions what value can be added from yet another round of consultation that will add five to six months before a final decision to approve the upgrade is committed.

The rules that govern transmission investment proposals allow certain parties to request that a public conference be held before the Commission finalises any decision. The Commission will release a detailed statement of reasons for its decision in mid-February, and will hold briefing sessions during the remainder of that month to explain the reasons for its decision. An opportunity for making written submissions is expected to run until about late March and a public conference is anticipated in late April or early May, assuming that one is requested.

“One would have to question what further issues could now be tabled at this late stage of the process, or what difference that might make, says NZCID Chief Executive, Stephen Selwood, especially following the extensive consultation and analysis on this proposal that has already occurred and given that there is still a significant RMA consultation and hearings process still required.

"Providing certainty on the grid upgrade path is critical to delivering the Government’s draft energy strategy which is reliant on getting distributed renewable hydro, geothermal and wind generation capacity to market via a robust transmission grid.

“Final determination of the upgrade path will encourage generation investment decisions, and will boost business and investment confidence generally.
"Certainty of direction is also critical for the communities directly affected by the upgrade path decision. There are few things worse than uncertainty about what's going to happen.

"It is to be hoped that, once the upgrade path is approved, a streamlined consenting process can be achieved this year so that Transpower can get on with the essential task of providing diversity of electricity supply into Auckland", Selwood says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media