The Rulings Panel
If the Rulings Panel upholds a complaint, it has a number of options available including imposing penalties against participants, awarding costs or compensation, issuing suspension or termination orders, and recommending Code changes. It also determines certain disputes between participants and can hear appeals on specific decisions made by the System Operator.
Members of the Rulings Panel are appointed by the Governor General in accordance with a recommendation from the Minister of Energy and Resources after consultation with the Minister of Justice and Electricity Authority.
The current members of the Rulings Panel are:
- Peter Dengate Thrush (Chair)
- Geraldine Baumann (Deputy Chair)
- Nicola Wills
- Susan Roberts
- John O'Sullivan
Background notes on each member
Peter Dengate Thrush
Peter Dengate Thrush is a barrister sole specialising in intellectual an industrial property, information technology, the internet and competition issues. He is a member of the Copyright Tribunal and until June 2011 was Chairman of the Board of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). He has been a member of the Rulings Panel since March 2008 and was Deputy Chair between July 2008 and August 2011.
Geraldine Baumann
Geraldine Baumann has 30 years experience in the electricity sector. She was General Counsel at the Electricity Corporation of NZ from 1987 to 1999 and then CEO of ECNZ - Residual for a year. Since that time she has been on the Board of EECA (from 2001 to 2007, including a period as Deputy Chair), the Board of Genesis Energy (2002 to 2008), and a member of the Board of Inquiry to consider the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (2008-2009).
Nicola Wills
Nicola Wills has practised as a barrister since 2000. She has extensive experience in commercial dispute resolution, and has been an Adjudicator of the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal since 2006. Her experience in the electricity sector includes a period as In-house Counsel at Transpower from 1998 to 1999.
Susan Roberts
Susan Roberts has over 30 years commercial experience, including 16 years in the energy sector carrying out senior level management and consultancy roles with Contact Energy, NGC, Genesis Energy and ECNZ.
John O'Sullivan
John O'Sullivan has been a member of the Rulings Panel since it was established in 2004. He is a power system engineer with 40 years' experience in the New Zealand electricity industry and overseas, including managing power stations and as General Manager Thermal and General Manager Geothermal at Contact Energy. He served as a board member of Transpower from 1991 to 1994, and the New Zealand Geothermal Association from 2002 to 2005.
The Authority's contact for the Rulings Panel is Ross Hill.
Rulings Panel decisions
The Rulings Panel has released the following decisions.
A preliminary question of the application of rule 5 of section VI of Part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 to Transpower New Zealand Limited
A complaint against Meridian Energy Limited relating to breaches of rule 3.1 of Part D, rules 11 and 12 of Part E, rule 3.1 of schedule E1 of Part E, rule 3.2 of schedule E2 of Part E, and rules 1.2, 2.2 and 4 of Part J of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003
A referral of a dispute to the Rulings Panel on 4 February 2009 involving an invoice issued to TrustPower Limited
A referral of a dispute to the Rulings Panel on 28 May 2009 involving an invoice issued to TrustPower Limited
A complaint relating to breaches of rule 1.3.4.7 of schedule G6 of Part G of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 by the system operator
A decision on costs orders in:
- A complaint relating to a breach of rule 1.3.4.5 of Schedule G6 of Part G of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 by the system operator (Decision, 22 September 2005, below); and
- A complaint relating to a breach of rule 4.3 of Section III of Part G of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 by the system operator (Decision, 26 September 2005 below).
A complaint against the system operator relating to a breach of rule 4.3 of section III of part G of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003
A complaint relating to a breach of rule 1.3.4.5 of section III of schedule G6 of Part G the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 by the system operator
Rulings Panel performance objectives
The chairperson of the Authority and the chairperson of the Rulings Panel have agreed on the following performance objectives for the Rulings Panel for 2013/14:
Rulings Panel procedures
The Rulings Panel may regulate its own procedures. The current version of the procedures is provided:
Rulings Panel Procedures 2011 (final version)
This page is related to: Code & Regulations.