11. AARON GILMORE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy and Resources
What is the Government doing to strengthen the national electricity grid?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Energy and Resources) Link to this
On Friday last week I released a revised Government policy statement for electricity. The new policy statement introduces a streamlined, simplified process for transmission investments under $20 million in value. This will save Transpower time and cost and will speed up important grid upgrades. Events in recent months—indeed, in recent weeks—demonstrate the critical need to ensure that investment in the grid is not delayed but, rather, accelerated.
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
Yes; the Government believes that disentangling the regulatory overlap between the Electricity Commission, Transpower, and the Commerce Commission is important. I have launched a ministerial review into the electricity market, which will consider those very issues. The Government is taking the interim step of amending the Government policy statement to ensure that transmission investment can happen more quickly.