Commerce Commission releases draft capital expenditure input methodology for Transpower
Published01 Jul 2011
The Commerce Commission has released its draft determination and reasons paper on an input methodology for approving Transpower New Zealand Limited's capital expenditure proposals.
The Commerce Commission has released its draft determination and reasons paper on an input methodology for approving Transpower New Zealand Limited's capital expenditure proposals.
"The input methodology provides an approval process for investments in the national grid. This is important because Transpower anticipates capital expenditure of up to $3billion over the next five years," said Sue Begg, Deputy Chair of the Commission.
Input methodologies promote certainty for the suppliers of regulated services about the effect of regulation on them. Increased regulatory certainty is important for fostering efficient investment.
The Commission must publish its final determination and reasons paper before 1 February 2012.
Submissions are due by 12 August 2011. Cross-submissions will be due by 26 August 2011.
Transpower is subject to individual price-quality regulation under Part 4 of the Commerce Act 1986.
Part 4 regulates suppliers of electricity lines services, including Transpower New Zealand Limited, gas pipeline services and specified airport services supplied by Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports.
Input methodologies involve setting upfront regulatory rules, processes and requirements that apply to the regulatory instruments under Part 4.
The Commerce Commission took over responsibility for approving Transpower's grid upgrade plan proposals from the Electricity Commission on 1 November 2010.
The Commission set Transpower's individual price-quality path in December 2010. However, the Commission has until 1 February 2012 to determine an input methodology for approving capital expenditure. This input methodology must include:
requirements that must be met by Transpower, including the scope and specificity of the information required, the extent of independent verification and audit, and the extent of consultation and agreement with consumers; and
the criteria the Commission will use to evaluate capital expenditure proposals; and
time frames and processes for evaluating capital expenditure proposals, including what happens if the Commission does not comply with those time frames.
