Commission seeks ideas on grid upgrade

17 June 2005

Commission seeks ideas on grid upgrade

The Electricity Commission is holding a series of public meetings next week to hear views on Transpower’s proposed transmission grid upgrade between Whakamaru in South Waikato and Otahuhu, South Auckland.

The commission wants to ensure a reliable electricity supply to Auckland and North Auckland and will consider alternatives to a transmission upgrade, before making a decision on whether to approve Transpower’s proposals.

Commission chair Roy Hemmingway said the commission would act impartially and was inviting interested parties to attend the meetings to discuss the consultative process for possible transmission alternatives.

“The meetings will explain the process the commission will go through during the next six months and will give background to its recently released consultation paper Alternatives to Transpower’s Proposed Whakamaru-Otahuhu Transmission Upgrade,” he said.

The consultation paper, and details on making submissions and the consultative process in general are available on: www.electricitycommission.govt.nz/consultation/transaltern/view

The deadline for submissions is July 13, 2005.

Meeting venues, dates and times are as follows:

Tuesday, June 21: Matamata-Piako, Senior Citizens’ Association Hall, Morrinsville, 7pm

Wednesday, June 22: South Waikato and Taupo, Council Chamber, Tokoroa, 1pm Waikato, Matahuru Hall, Storey Rd, Matahuru, 7pm

Thursday, June 23: Waipa, Riverside of Cambridge Conference Centre, Cambridge, 1pm Hauraki, Ngatea Hall, Ngatea, 7pm

Sunday, June 26: Manukau, Clevedon Hall, Clevedon, 7pm

Monday, June 27: Franklin, Mangatawhiri Hall, Mangatawhiri, 1pm Franklin, Hunua Hall, Hunua, 7pm

The Electricity Commission is a Crown entity set up in 2003 under the Electricity Act to oversee New Zealand’s electricity industry and markets

ENDS

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