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Electricity Authority start date delayed

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee confirmed today that the Electricity Authority will be established on November 1. The Electricity Industry Bill will be passed through its remaining parliamentary stages next week but the original date of Octob

Nina Fowler
Wed, 15 Sep 2010

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee confirmed today that the Electricity Authority will be established on November 1.

The Electricity Industry Bill will be passed through its remaining parliamentary stages next week but the original date of October 1 for establishment of the Electricity Authority is no longer feasible, Mr Brownlee said.

“Since the Canterbury earthquake my priority, and that of the government as a whole, has had to be the region’s earthquake recovery effort.”

Several final details still need to be progressed, including industry enforcement regulations, the Electricity Industry Code, the appointment of the authority’s board members and the authority’s budget.

The Electricity Authority will replace the Electricity Commission, as one of a number of reforms to be passed under the omnibus Electricity Industry Bill.

The authority will pick up responsibility for promoting competition, reliable supply and efficient operation of the electricity market for the long-term benefit of consumers.

Other Electricity Commission functions will be split between the Commerce Commission, Transpower, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Carl Hansen, a Wellington-based economist and independent company director, has been appointed as chief executive-designate of the new Electricity Authority.

He is a former head of the Marketplace Company (M-co), the wholesale energy trading platform bought out by the NZX last year.

Labour has pledged to repeal the Electricity Industry Bill once it returns to power.

Nina Fowler
Wed, 15 Sep 2010
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Electricity Authority start date delayed
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