Proposed interconnection service measures: capacity measures
About this Consultation
The rules for interconnection asset services in section VI of part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 (Interconnection Rules), which came into force earlier this year, set out a framework for the regulation of interconnection asset services. This includes an obligation on Transpower to make interconnection assets available in accordance with specified service measures and to maintain the grid in a specified configuration.
The detailed service measures and levels and grid configuration, were not set out in the Interconnection Rules at that time. Instead, the Interconnection Rules provide a process for the Commission to recommend the specified service measures and levels, and grid configuration, to the Minister of Energy (Minister) for inclusion as a schedule to the Interconnection Rules.
Once finalised, the service measures and levels, and grid configuration, will be used by participants to see exactly what interconnection assets Transpower must make available, how they are configured, and at what capacity. Transpower will be required to report against these service measures and levels, and on any change to the configuration of the grid.
The service measures and levels, and grid configuration, are one part of the three remaining elements required before the benchmark agreement can take effect. The other two elements are the Connection Code and the Outage Protocol. These items are proposed in a separate consultation paper, available on the Commission's website.
In accordance with the Interconnection Rules, Transpower has provided the Electricity Commission with a diagram showing the configuration of the grid (other than connection assets) (diagram) and information on the service measures and levels for interconnection assets (information).
The Commission has provisionally approved the information and diagram provided and now publishes them for consultation. It also publishes an alternative set of service measures and levels for comment.
- Consultation paper
- Appendix 2 Service measures and levels for interconnection circuits and transformer branches
- Appendix 3 Configuration and capacity of the HVDC link
- Appendix 4 Service measures and levels for shunt assets
- Appendix 5 Dates for summer and winter periods
- Appendix 6 Diagrams showing the configuration of the grid
- Appendix 7 Proposed amendments to section VI of part F
- Appendix 8 Alternative capacity measures
- Appendix 9 HVDC Bipole operating policy (TP.OG 48.02 Issue 4, July 2007)
- Appendix 10 Example of other capacity measures
The purpose of this paper is to consult with participants and with the persons that the Commission thinks are representative of the interests of persons likely to be substantially affected by the proposal to include the information and diagram as a schedule to section VI of part F of the Rules.
This paper is a statement of proposal in accordance with section 172F of the Electricity Act 1992, for the purposes of consultation under section 172E(2)(b)(ii). As such, it is required to set out a detailed statement of the proposal, a statement of the reasons for it, provide an assessment of the proposal and any reasonably practicable options identified by the Commission, and any other information that the Commission considers relevant. This paper also publishes the proposed information and diagram for the purposes of rule 2.7 of section VI of part F of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 (the Rules).
Additional information received from Transpower
On 8 November 2007, Transpower provided further information in relation to the proposed interconnection service measures. This information mainly related to Transpower's approach to interconnection circuit branch information where a circuit branch comprises both connection and interconnection assets.
Some interconnection circuits have been treated as connection circuit branches because they contain connection assets (as well as interconnection assets). However, there is a good argument that these circuit branches should be subject to the Interconnection Rules rather than the Benchmark Agreement.
Transpower also provided updates to the HVDC service measures because a November 2006 Service Advisory notice had not been reflected in the HVDC Bipole Policy, on which the HVDC Service Measures were based.
The Commission is treating this information received from Transpower as a submission received during the consultation period that should be considered by all potential submitters.
The Commission, therefore, seeks comments from submitters on the additional information provided by Transpower by the consultation closing date of midday, 22 November 2007.
Interconnection circuit branch reports
Transformer branch reports
- 20071108-EDG
- 20071108-HWB
- 20071108-INV
- 20071108-MDN
- 20071108-MDN-TF-T2
- 20071108-MDN-TF-T3
- 20071108-ROX
- 20071108-WES
HVDC service measures
- Revised Configuration and capacity of HVDC to 28 June 2007
- Revised Configuration and capacity of HVDC to 28 September 2007
- Revised HVDC Capacity information relevant to appendix 8 above
- Revised Modulation Functions of HVDC link relevant to appendix 10 above
- HVDC Service advisory notice 21 November 2006
This page is related to: Transmission.