What's New
3
October 2008
2009 Regulatory Reset
As
required by the Final Methodology Decision, Power and
Water submitted its ‘initial regulatory proposal’ to the
Commission for the third regulatory period covering all
of Power and Water’s regulated networks on 22 August
2008.
This Paper presents the
Commission’s Initial Draft Determination, based on whether or not it proposes to
approve Power and Water’s initial regulatory proposal and, if not, what
revisions it proposes to require before a revised regulatory proposal could be
approved by the Commission. This Initial Draft Determination is published in
conjunction with the recommendations from the Commission's advisers and a
revised Po adjustment model.
The
Commission invites submissions from interested parties
concerning the Initial Draft Determination.
The
closing date for submissions is Friday, 24 October 2008.
22 August 2008
2009 Regulatory Reset
As required by the Commission’s
2009 Regulatory Reset: Final Price Control Mechanism Decision (published in May
2008), Power and Water has submitted its Initial Regulatory Proposal for the third regulatory period.
The Commission will publish its
Initial Draft Determination, based on whether or not it proposes to approve the
initial regulatory proposal and, if not, what revisions it proposes to require
before a revised regulatory proposal could be approved by the Commission in
early October, at which time the view of interested parties will be sought.
27
August 2008
Electricity Market Information
The
Commission has released its annual report on the
composition of the NT Electricity Market.
25 August 2008
Review of Ring-fencing Code
In May 2008, the
Commission published a Proposed Draft Ring-fencing Code, in accordance with clause
7.4 of the Code.
A late submission has now been
received from NT Treasury in response to the draft Ring-fencing Code. The
Commission has accepted the submission following advice from NT Treasury that
the lateness of the submission was due to the calling of the Territory election
and caretaker conventions being in operation.
15 August 2008
Review of Ring-fencing Code
In May 2008, the
Commission published a Proposed Draft Ring-fencing Code, in accordance with clause
7.4 of the Code.
A single submission was
received from Power and Water:
In view of the substantive
matters raised by Power and Water, it is the Commission’s intention is to
release a further draft for comment in mid-October 2008.
24 July 2008
2009 Regulatory Reset
As required by the Commission’s
2009 Regulatory Reset: Final Price Control Mechanism Decision (published in May
2008), the Commission has approved the network services classification proposed
by Power and Water for the third regulatory period.
This is an interim approval -
the final network services classification for the third regulatory period will
form part of the Commission’s 2009 Regulatory Reset: Final Determination to be
released in November 2008.
30 June 2008
2009 Regulatory Reset
Following representations made
by Power and Water, the Commission has agreed to some refinements to the Po
adjustment model. The Po adjustment model version 2 incorporates these
amendments.
25 June 2008
Renewal of Electricity System Control Licence
The Commission has granted an
Electricity System Control Licence to the Power and Water Corporation. The
System Control Licence issued in June 2005 expired on 30 June 2008.
25 June 2008
Approval of System Control Technical Code
In accordance with section
38(1) of the Electricity Reform Act and clause 27A(1) of the Electricity
Networks (Third Party Access) Code, the Commission has approved the System
Control Technical Code.
12 June 2008
Review of Ring-fencing Code
Power and Water has requested
an extension of one month to lodge its submission on the Draft Ring-fencing Code
in order to have sufficient time to obtain and consider expert legal advice.
The Commission has agreed to
the one month extension requested. This should be sufficient time for Power and
Water to identify the main legal and regulatory issues which it considers
necessary to raise with the Commission. While the Commission is unlikely to
agree to further extensions, the Commission will nevertheless be ensuring that
there is sufficient time to fully consider all further amendments proposed to
the Code – including in response to Power and Water’s detailed consideration of
the issues this time around.
While this will cause the
proposed start date of 1 September 2008 for the new Code to slip, at this stage
the Commission will not nominate a revised start date.
The revised closing date for
submissions on the Draft Code is 25 July 2008.
28
May 2008
Approval of Network Access Tariffs 2008-09
In
accordance with clause 78(3) of the Electricity Networks
(Third Party Access) Code , the Commission has
approved the network access tariffs and charges for
2008-09, effective 1 July 2008.
22 May 2008
Review of NT Electricity Ring-fencing Code
In February 2008, the
Commission published a Proposed Variations Paper, in accordance with clause
7.1 of the Code, which sets out the nature of the proposed changes to the Code.
Following consideration of
submissions from interested parties and its own further deliberations in
consultation with its legal advisers, the Commission has decided to proceed with
the proposed variations to the Code, although with some modification to the
specific drafting detail set out in the earlier Consultation Paper, mainly in
response to submissions received.
The Commission has now released
its “Proposed Draft Code”. Submissions are invited from interested parties
concerning the issues raised in this Proposed Draft Code paper and related
matters.
The closing date for
submissions is Friday, 27 June 2008.
A ‘Delta View’ showing the
substantive changes between the version of the proposed Draft Code that
accompanied the Proposed Variations Paper and the Draft Code now proposed is
also provided below.
While the Commission has taken
all reasonable care in preparing this delta view document, it is provided for
the purpose of general guidance only. Certain formatting and consequential
changes are not marked up in this document. Interested parties should refer to
the original Codes rather than rely on this delta view document.
22
May 2008
2009 Regulatory Reset
Following the publication of
its Final Decision on price control mechanism issues, the Commission has now
published its Po adjustment model. The Commission’s Po adjustment model sets out
the manner in which Power and Water’s efficient costs of supplying standard
control services in a single regulatory year are to be calculated. As part of
its regulatory proposal, Power and Water must submit to the Commission a
proposed Po adjustment factor calculated using the Commission’s Po adjustment
model.
Power and Water (and other
stakeholders) may request corrections and modifications to the Po adjustment
model issued by the Commission where this is considered necessary to achieve
consistency with the applicable provisions of the National Electricity Rules
or of the NT Electricity Networks (Third Party Access) Code. Requests for
corrections or modifications must be lodged with the Commission by no later than
Monday, 30 June 2008. The Commission will publish its response to each request
for correction or modification within five business days of receipt of the
request.
The Commission’s Po adjustment
model should be used in conjunction with the Commission’s Final Decision on the
price control mechanism to apply during the third regulatory period.
2
May 2008
2009 Regulatory Reset
In March 2008, the Commission
released its Draft Decision on price control mechanism issues. The price control
mechanism involves the practical and technical detail for the administration of
network price control regulation over which the Commission as regulator - in
consultation with stakeholders - has a degree of discretion.
Submissions were received from
three interested parties:
Following consideration of the
views in submissions and in light of its own further analysis, the Commission
has now published it Final Decision on price control mechanism issues.
26
March 2008
Standards of Service
The Commission has released its
annual report of Power and Water’s Standards of Service performance pursuant to
the Standards of Service Code.
18 March 2008
Review of NT Electricity Ring-fencing Code
In February 2008, the
Commission published a Proposed Variations Paper, in accordance with clause 7.1
of the Code, which set out the nature of the proposed changes to the Code.
Submissions were received from two interested parties.
7
March 2008
2009 Regulatory Reset
The
2009 Reset was initiated by an Issues paper published in
October 2007 which sought to identify the main issues to
be dealt with in the initial broad design stage of the
Reset and invited interested parties to make submissions
concerning the issues raised in the Issues Paper and
related matters.
Following consideration of the views in submissions and
in light of its own further analysis, the Commission has
now published its Draft Decision on price control
mechanism issues. The price control mechanism involves
the practical and technical detail for the
administration of network price regulation over which
the Commission as regulator - in consultation with
stakeholders - has a degree of discretion.
The
Commission invites submissions from interested parties
concerning the draft Price Control Mechanism Decision.
The
closing date for submissions is Friday, 18 April 2008
6
February 2008
Review of NT Electricity Ring-fencing Code
The Commission has
published a Proposed Variations Paper, in accordance
with clause 7.1 of the Code, which sets out the nature
of the proposed changes to the Code. Following
consideration of any submissions, the Commission will
then release a final Draft Code for comment.
A ‘Delta View’ showing the substantive changes
between the current Code and the proposed Draft Code is also provided below.
While the Commission has taken all reasonable care
in preparing this delta view document, it is provided for the purpose of general
guidance only. Certain formatting and consequential changes are not marked up in
this document. Interested parties should refer to the original Codes rather than
rely on this delta view document.
The Commission invites interested parties to make
a submission concerning the proposed variations to the Code.
The closing date for submissions is Friday, 14
March 2008.
5
February 2008
Technical breach of licence
Power and Water is required to
undertake an audit of all or part of the operations authorised by relevent
licences in respect of each financial year and its compliance with the
obligations under the relevent licence and associated regulatory instruments,
which must be conducted by an independent auditor.
The Commission has noted that
certain areas of non-compliance continue to be identified by the audit from year
to year
Accordingly, the Commission
considers Power and Water to be in technical breach of the relevant licences and
will remain so until such time as each of the non compliance areas are
rectified.
31
January 2008
Possible Review of Certain Regulatory Instruments
Following consideration of
submissions from interested parties, the Commission
confirms its earlier in-principle decision to revamp the
NT electricity ring-fencing code. It has however decided
to await developments before proceeding with the making
of any contestable pricing guidelines.
This paper sets out in more detail the
Commission’s reasoning for these decisions, and its proposed next steps.
7
January 2008
Annual Power System Review
The Commission has
released its Annual Power System Review, reporting to
the Minister on prospective trends in the capacity and
reliability of the Territory power system.
7
January 2008
2009 Regulatory Reset
In October 2007 the
Commission released an Issues Paper designed to identify
the key issues within the scope of the reset and to
invite submissions on these issues.
Submissions were received from
three interested parties concerning the issues raised in this Paper.
12
November 2007
Possible Review of Certain Regulatory Instruments -
Issues Paper
In August 2007 the
Commission released an Issues paper regarding a Possible
Review of Certain Regulatory Instruments for public comment.
Submissions were received from four interested parties
concerning the issues raised in this Paper.
The Commission is now
considering the submissions received and expects to release a paper shortly
setting out some proposed variations to the Ring-fencing Code.
19
October 2007
2009 Regulatory Reset
In the
lead-up to the commencement of the third regulatory
control period (the five year period commencing 1 July
2009), the Code requires the Commission as regulator -
in consultation with interested parties - to review the
network price regulation methodology used in the second
regulatory control period with a view to modifying the
methodology as appropriate. The Commission is referring
to this process of establishing the network price
regulation methodology to apply from 1 July 2009 as the
"2009 Regulatory Reset".
To
facilitate this public consultation, the Commission has
released the attached Issues Paper which is designed to
identify the key issues within the scope of the reset
and to invite submissions on these issues.
The
Commission invites submissions from interested parties
concerning the issues raised in this Paper and related
matters. Submissions may also add or modify the list of
issues, as well as put forward preferred approaches.
The
closing date for submissions is Friday, 21 December
2007
18
October 2007
Annual Report 2006-07
The
Commission has released its Annual Report for 2006-07.
7
September 2007
Possible Review of Certain Regulatory Instruments
The
Commission has taken an in-principle decision to
- over the next year or so - revamp the NT electricity
ring-fencing code and develop some contestable pricing
guidelines, notwithstanding regulatory policy
developments that may impact on the NT's electricity
market over the same period.
An
Issues Paper has been released setting out the
Commission's reasoning for this preferred course of
action, in order to obtain stakeholder feedback. The
Commission will take views received into account before
deciding whether or how to proceed.
Submissions are invited from interested parties
concerning the issues raised in this Paper and related
matters. The closing date for submissions is Friday,
19 October 2007.
4
September 2007
Licence Exemption for Small Scale Renewable Operations
The
Commission, with the approval of the Minister, has
issued an exemption from the requirement for generation
and retail licences for installations defined as small
scale renewable energy operations.
The
Commission does not consider it appropriate that such
small scale renewable energy operations be subject to
the same licensing requirements as apply to larger
electricity entities. These operations are generally not
for profit, the majority of electricity generated is for
private use, the amount transferred back into the grid
is very small and the risk to the power system security
is small.
29
August 2007
Electricity Market Information
The
Commission has released its annual report on the
composition of the NT Electricity Market.
18
May 2007
Approval of Network Access Tariffs 2007-08
In
accordance with clause 78(3) of the Electricity Networks
(Third Party Access) Code , the Commission has
approved the network access tariffs and charges for
2007-08, effective 1 July 2007.
26
April 2007
Contestable Pricing Guidelines
In
September 2001, the Commission published Contestable
Pricing Guidelines to present the Commission’s views on
the types of pricing conduct that could give rise to a
finding of ‘anti-competitive’ and/or ‘discriminatory’
conduct by the Commission under either the Ring-Fencing
Code or the complaints provisions of the Electricity
Reform Act 2000.
In the circumstances that
currently prevail in the NT electricity market, the Commission has decided that
the Guidelines are in need of review. To allow time for such a review to take
place, the Commission has withdrawn the Guidelines with immediate effect from 26
April 2007.
28
March 2007
Regulatory Accounts
The
Commission has accepted Power and Water's Regulatory
Accounts for the 2005-06 year in accordance with the
Accounting Procedures under the Ring-fencing Code.
The
public extracts are available below.
22
December 2006
Annual Power System Review
The Commission has
released its Annual Power System Review, reporting to
the Minister on prospective trends in the capacity and
reliability of the Territory power system.
15
December 2006
Standards of Service
The
Commission has released its first annual report of Power
and Water's Standards of Service performance pursuant to
the Standards of Service Code.
19
September 2006
Electricity Market Information
The
Commission has released its annual report on the
composition of the NT electricity market.
19
July 2006
Minimum Standards of Service
In
July 2006, pursuant to clause 5 of the Northern
Territory Electricity Standards of Service Code, the
Commission has approved the initial minimum standards
for reliability, quality and customer service submitted
by Power and Water.
The
Commission's approval of the Minimum Standards is
subject to the certain conditions set out in the
approval instrument below.
19
July 2006
Energy Loss Factors Methodology
The
Commission has approved the draft methodology pursuant
to clause 4(1) of the Code, on the basis that the
Commission has no information before it to indicate that
the Methodology does not comply with the principles set
out in the Schedule 1 of the Code
19
July 2006
Water Metering Code
The
Commission approved the revised Water Metering Code as
the proposed changes submitted by Power and Water
do not alter the Code substantially enough to be
considered inconsistent with the objects of the Act.
1
July 2006
Distribution System Extension Area Changes
The
Commission has approved use of the schedule of financial
contributions set out in the Power and Water
Corporation’s Distribution System Extension Policy as
complying with the provisions of section 86(7) of the
Electricity Reform Act, subject to some conditions as
set out in the approval instrument below.
1
June 2006
Cost Allocation
In September 2005, the
Commission commenced a review of the cost allocation
policies and practices of Power and Water.
A summary of the
Commission's conclusions is available below:
31
May 2006
Approval of Network Access Tariffs 2006-07
In accordance with
clause 78(3) of the Electricity
Networks (Third Party Access) Code, the Commission has
approved the network access tariffs and charges for
2006-07, effective 1 July 2006.
12
May 2006
Approval of Accounting, Cost Allocation and Information
Procedures
In accordance with
clause 5 of the Northern Territory Electricity
Ring-fencing Code, the Commission has extended its
approval of the Accounting, Cost Allocation and
Information Procedures for an indefinite period. The
reasons for the Commission's decision are set out in the
notice below.
19
April 2006
Energy Loss Factors Code
The Commission has
released an Energy Loss Factors Code. This Code sets out
the high-level principles underlying the calculation of
energy loss factors. Any number of methodologies and
approaches could be consistent with these principles and
the Code thus allows the network provider to choose from
among them in a way that makes most sense in the
circumstances.
22
March 2006
Standards of Service Code - Procedural Guidelines
Pursuant to section 7
of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission
has issued Procedural Guidelines to set out in more
detail administrative arrangements relating to the
Standards of Service Code.
22
March 2006
Reversal of Contestability Guidelines
Pursuant to section 7
of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission
has issued Guidelines designed to articulate the
principles that will underlie any declaration by the
Commission under section 6C of the Electricity Reform
(Administration) Regulations and to set out the process
the Commission will follow in deciding whether to revoke
a customer's contestability status.
22
February 2006
Network Pricing Principles
In accordance with
clause 75(6) of the Electricity Networks (Third Party
Access) Code, the Commission has approved the Pricing
Principles Statement for the second regulatory control
period.
10
February 2006
Annual Power System Review
The Commission has
released its Annual Power System Review, reporting to
the Minister on prospective trends in the capacity and
reliability of the Territory power system.
25
January 2006
Regulatory Accounts
The Commission has
accepted Power and Water's Regulatory Accounts for the
2004-05 year in accordance with the Accounting
Procedures under the Ring-fencing Code.
The public extracts are
available below.
21
December 2005
Standards of Service Code
The Commission has
released a Standards of Service Code following
consideration of submissions received in response to its
October 2005 Draft Code.
31
October 2005
Network Pricing Principles
Pursuant to clause
75(S) of the Code, Power and Water has submitted a
revised Draft Pricing Principles Statement to the
Commission for approval.
While the revised
Pricing Principles Statement is based on one previously
approved, some changes to tariff structures have been
foreshadowed.
Submissions are invited
from interested parties by Friday 25 November 2005
7
October 2005
Draft Standards of Service Code
In August 2005 the
Commission released a Draft Standards of Service
Code for public comment. Only one submission was
received from Power and Water:
The Commission is now
reviewing the Draft Code, including in light of legal
advice and the submission received, and expects to
promulgate a final Code by the end of the year.
5
August 2005
Draft Standards of Service Code
The Commission has
released a Draft Standards of Service Code following
consideration of submissions received in response to its
August 2004 Issues Paper.
Submissions are sought
from interested parties on the Draft Code by 30
September 2005
30
June 2005
Approval of
Accounting, Cost Allocation and Information Procedures
In accordance with
clause 5 of the Northern Territory Electricity
Ring-Fencing Code. the Commission has extended its approval
of the Accounting, Cost Allocation and Information
Procedures until 30 June
2006.
23
May 2005
Approval of
Network Access Tariffs 2005-06
In accordance with
clause 78 (3) of the Electricity Networks (Third Party
Access) Code. the Commission has approved the network
access tariffs and charges for 2005-06, effective 1 July
2005.
28
April 2005
Networks Pricing - Asset Valuation off-ramp
The Commission has
released its statement of reasons supporting its Final
Decision relating to asset valuation matters
consequential to its Final Determination for the 2004
Regulatory Reset.
30
March 2005
Networks Pricing - Asset Valuation off-ramp
The
Commission has released its Final Decision relating to
asset valuation matters consequential to its Final
Determination for the 2004 Regulatory Reset.
The
Commission will publish a full analysis and statement of
reasons for this decision in April 2005.
24
March 2005
Renewal of Electricity Retail Licence
The
Commission has granted an Electricity Retail Licence to
the Power and Water Corporation.
21
March 2005
Complaint Investigation
A
Tranche 1 contestable customer made a complaint to the
Commission pursuant to section 48(1) (b) of the Electricity Reform Act
alleging that Power and Water was engaging in
electricity pricing conduct contrary to the objects of
the Act.
The
Commission found that the complaint cannot be
substantiated.
A
summary of the Commission's findings is available below:
9
March 2005
Unders
and Overs Account
In
accordance with clause 26 of Power and Water's Network
Licence, Power and Water has reported to the Commission
on its recovery of regulated revenue for the 2003-04
financial year.
8 March 2005
Application for
renewal of electricity retail licence
Power and Water has
applied for renewal of its licence to sell electricity
to customers in the Northern Territory, pursuant to
section 15 of the Electricity Reform Act
Stakeholders and
interested parties may make submissions on this
application if they wish.
The closing date for submissions is Friday 18 March
2005
3 March 2005
Networks
Pricing - Asset Valuation off-ramp
The Commission has
released its Draft Decision relating to asset valuation
matters consequential to its Final Determination for the
2004 Regulatory Reset.
Submissions are invited
from interested parties.
The closing date for
submissions is: Monday 21 March 2005
19 February 2005
Regulatory Accounts
The
Commission has accepted Power and Water's Regulatory
Accounts for the 2003-04 year in accordance with the
Accounting Procedures under the Ring-fencing Code.
The
public extracts are available below.
5 January 2005
Application
for an electricity retail licence refused
The Commission has not
received the assurances sought regarding the financial
capacity of Paladin Torrix Energy Corporation Pty Ltd (PTEC)
to operate as an electricity retailer within the requisite
timeframe. Accordingly, on 4 January 2005, the Commission
advised PTEC of its decision to refuse to grant the
requested licence.
The Commission has not been able to satisfy
itself, as required under section 16(2)(d) of the Electricity Reform Act 2000,
that PTEC would be able to meet reasonably foreseeable obligations for the sale
of electricity. The Act only permits the Commission to grant a retail licence
where it is satisfied that an applicant is able to meet reasonably foreseeable
obligations for the sale of electricity.
The Commission will only re-open PTEC’s
application when and if PTEC is able to provide the Commission with the
requested information about its financial capacity to operate as an electricity
retailer.
2 January 2005
Contestable
Pricing
Retail prices paid for electricity by contestable
customers is a matter for negotiation between each customer and licensed
retailers.
In the absence of a competitor to Power and Water,
the Commission has provided some guidance to Power and Water regarding the
extent to which certain regulatory instruments place constraints on price
negotiations.
20 December 2004
Standards of Service
In November 2004, the
Commission released an issues paper exploring issues
surrounding the development and implementation of a
standards-of-service framework in the Territory's
electricity supply industry.
The Commission sought
public submissions from interested parties. The
submissions received can be viewed here:
20 December 2004
Annual Power System Review
The Commission has released its Annual
Power System Review, reporting to the Minister on
prospective trends in the capacity and reliability of the
Territory's power System.
27 August 2004
Energy Loss factors Compliance Review
The Commission has now
released its findings following a review of Power and
Water's compliance with Schedule 13 of the Network Access
Code.
Full details are
confidential to the parties involved due to the
commercial-in-confidence nature of the information
provided.
A summary of key
findings can be found below.
I July 2004
Approval of Accounting and Cost Allocation Procedures
In accordance with clause 5 of the
Northern Territory Electricity Ring-fencing Code, the Commission has
extended is approval of the accounting and cost allocation procedures until 30
June 2005.
30 June 2004
Approval of System Control Charges
In accordance with section
39(2) of the Electricity Reform Act, the Commission has approved system control
charges to apply from 1 July 2004.This approval will continue until superseded.
27May 2004
Approval of Network Access
Tariffs 2004-05
In accordance with clause 78(3)
of the Electricity Networks (Third Party Access) Code, the Commission has
approved the network access tariffs and charges for 2004-05, effective 1 July
2004.
26 May 2004
Approval of Capital
Contributions Principles Methods and Statements
In accordance with clause 81(3)
of the Electricity Networks (Third Party Access) Code, the Commission has
approves Power and Water’s Capital Contributions Principles and methods
Statement for use during the second regulatory control period from 1 July 2004
to 30 June 2009.
The Commission is satisfied
that this Statement is consistent with the principles laid down in clause 80 of
the Code and is consistent with requirements elsewhere in the Code.
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