"A power system that is already prone to shortages like those currently forecast on Friday is facing never-before-seen demand from electric vehicles (EVs) and big data centres.
Vector is preparing for it - but the lack of laws and regulations and an Energy Ministry are in its way."
"The New Zealand Electricity Authority (Māori: Te Mana Hiko) is an independent Crown entity responsible for the regulation of the New Zealand electricity market. The Authority was established in November 2010, following a government review of the electricity industry, and replaced the Electricity Commission. The Authority has a narrower focus on industry competition, reliability and efficiency than the Electricity Commission had."
So Helen Clark's Labour government set up the Electricity Commission
"... following extremely dry hydro years in 2001 and 2003, which led to government concerns that the electricity market did not provide adequate security of electricity supply."
It was intended to oversee the reliability of electricity supply in Aotearoa over the long term. Exactly what Vector is pointing out we don't have. Why?
Because in the last NatACT slashfest on "wasteful" public spending and regulatory "red tape", the Electricity Commission was axed. Replaced with an Electricity Authority focused only on ensuring competition - an add-on to the Commerce Commision - and not on securing supply.
I wonder which of the NatACT First government's current cuts will come back to haunt them, and us?
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