Power supply market for deregulation

Press, 11 June 1987, Page 17

Power supply market for deregulation

PA Wellington Provisions to deregulate the electricity transmission market were included in the State Enterprises Restructuring Bill which was reported back to Parliament this week.

The bill, setting the controls for Airways, Electricity, Postal Services and Telecom, was introduced last December. The chairman of the Commerce and Marketing Select Committee, Mr Peter Neilson (Lab., Miramar) said all economic control of electricity transmission had been removed, although safety and technical supervision had been retained.

Previously any organisation other than a supply authority or the electricity division of the Ministry of Energy had to seek the Minister’s ap-

proval to put up transmission or distribution lines.

Now only notification’ was required, Mr Neilson said.

Several submissions were made on the importance of safeguarding individual property owners’ rights. Mr Neilson said the bill would give limited entry rights, but they would be far more re-, stricted than those enjoyed by the corporations’ predecessors. A Supplementary Order Paper included with the bill, contained provisions giving effect to interim changes in the State pay fixing system. It included the introduction of voluntary arbitration.

Mr Neilson said the balance of the provisions establishing the industrial relations framework for S.O.E.S had been incorporated into the bill.