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Questions and answers about National guidance on electricity transmission

What is ‘electricity transmission’ exactly?

Electricity transmission is the network of pylons, conductors (power wires), and substations of the national grid.  It does not include electricity generation or local distribution of electricity to houses and businesses.

Transpower is the only operator of the electricity transmission network.

Why is the Government giving more guidance on electricity transmission?

Getting electricity to the places where it is actually needed is important for people’s wellbeing and the economy.  For example, the hydro-electricity generated in the South Island is often used in the North Island.  An electricity network is only as good as it weakest link, so when managing the transmission network it is necessary to look at the network as a whole.

What is the Government doing about electricity transmission?

The Government recognises that electricity supply is important to the whole country.  At present, there is no national framework to guide local government when they have to decide on proposals for transmission network development.

So, the Government has developed a proposed National Policy Statement to acknowledge the important status of the national grid and to ensure that there is balanced consideration of the national benefits and the local effects of electricity transmission.

The proposed statement acknowledges that electricity supply, through the electricity transmission network, is a matter of national significance in achieving the purpose of the Resource Management Act: sustainable management of natural and physical resources.

What does this mean for individual projects, such as the proposed upgrade of the transmission line between the Waikato (Whakamaru) and Auckland?

The proposed national policy statement does not refer to any individual transmission network projects but will be a consideration for decision makers.  It will help set the overall policy framework and contain policies that will need to be taken into account when individual projects are considered under the Resource Management Act.

What are the opportunities for public involvement in the NPS on electricity transmission?

A Board of Inquiry has been appointed to inquire into and report on a proposed national policy statement.  It will notify the public in major daily newspapers about the release of the draft policy statement.  Any person can make a submission and has right to be heard by the Board of Inquiry.

Once public consultation is complete the Board will provide an independent report to the Minister for Environment by the end of the year.

How does the national policy statement link with the national environmental standards on electricity transmission?

The national policy statement sets out objectives and policies at a national level to assist resource management decision makers.  National environmental standards are regulations which set out specific, detailed requirements.  For example for the circumstances in which a resource will or will not be required for an activity and the matters to be taken into account in making a decision on a resource consent application.

Last updated: 6 May 2008