NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT

on Electricity Transmission

Issued by notice in the Gazette on 13 March 2008

CONTENTS

Preamble

1. Title
2. Commencement
3. Interpretation
4. Matter of national significance
5. Objective
6. Recognition of the national benefits of transmission
7. Managing the environment effects of transmission
8. Managing the adverse effects of third parties on the transmission network
9. Maps
10. Long-term strategic planning for transmission assets

Preamble

This national policy statement sets out the objective and policies to enable the management of the effects of the electricity transmission network under the Resource Management Act 1991.

In accordance with section 55(2A)(a) of the Act, and within four years of approval of this national policy statement, local authorities are to notify and process under the First Schedule to the Act a plan change or review to give effect as appropriate to the provisions of this national policy statement.

The efficient transmission of electricity on the national grid plays a vital role in the well- being of New Zealand, its people and the environment. Electricity transmission has special characteristics that create challenges for its management under the Act.   These include:

•   Transporting electricity efficiently over long distances requires support structures (towers or poles), conductors, wires and cables, and sub-stations and switching stations.

• These facilities can create environmental effects of a local, regional and national scale. Some of these effects can be significant.

• The transmission network is an extensive and linear system which makes it important that there are consistent policy and regulatory approaches by local authorities.

•  Technical, operational and security requirements associated with the transmission network can limit the extent to which it is feasible to avoid or mitigate all adverse environmental effects.

• The operation, maintenance and future development of the transmission network can be significantly constrained by the adverse environmental impact of third party activities and development.

• The adverse environmental effects of the transmission network are often local – while the benefits may be in a different locality and/or extend beyond the local to the regional and national – making it important that those exercising powers and functions under the Act balance local, regional and national environmental effects (positive and negative).

•     Ongoing investment in the transmission network and significant upgrades are expected    to be required to meet the demand for electricity and to meet the Government’s objective for a renewable energy future, therefore strategic planning to provide for transmission infrastructure is required.

The national policy statement is to be applied by decision-makers under the Act. The objective and policies are intended to guide decision-makers in drafting plan rules, in  making decisions on the notification of the resource consents and in the determination of resource consent applications, and in considering notices of requirement for designations for transmission activities.

However, the national policy statement is not meant to be a substitute for, or prevail over, the Act’s statutory purpose or the statutory tests already in existence. Further, the national policy statement is subject to Part 2 of the Act.

For  decision-makers under the Act, the national policy statement is intended to be  a relevant consideration to be weighed along with other considerations in achieving the sustainable management purpose of the  Act.

This preamble may assist the interpretation of the national policy statement, where this is needed to resolve uncertainty.

1.  Title

This national policy statement is the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2008.

2.   Commencement

This national policy statement comes into force on the 28th day after the date on which it is notified in the Gazette.

3.   Interpretation

In this national policy statement, unless the context otherwise requires:

Act means the Resource Management Act  1991.

Decision-makers means all persons exercising functions and powers under the  Act.

Electricity transmission network, electricity transmission and transmission activities/ assets/infrastructure/resources/system all mean part of the national grid of transmission lines and cables (aerial, underground and undersea, including the high-voltage direct current link), stations and sub-stations and other works used to connect grid injection points and grid exit points to convey electricity throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

National environmental standard means a standard prescribed by regulations made under the Act.

National grid means the assets used or owned by Transpower  NZ  Limited.

Sensitive activities includes schools, residential buildings and hospitals.

4.   Matter of national significance

The matter of national significance to which this national policy statement applies is the need to operate, maintain, develop and upgrade the electricity transmission  network.

5.   Objective

To recognise the national significance of the electricity transmission network by facilitating the operation, maintenance and upgrade of the existing transmission network and the establishment of new transmission resources to meet the needs of present and future generations, while:

• managing the adverse environmental effects of the network; and
• managing the adverse effects of other activities on the network.

6.   Recognition of the national benefits of transmission

POLICY 1

In achieving the purpose of the Act, decision-makers must recognise and provide for the national, regional and local benefits of sustainable, secure and efficient electricity transmission. The benefits relevant to any particular project or development of the electricity transmission network may include:

i)          maintained or improved security of supply of electricity; or

ii)        efficient transfer of energy through a reduction of transmission losses; or

iii)      the facilitation of the use and development of new electricity generation, including renewable generation which assists in the management of the effects of climate change; or

iv)       enhanced supply of electricity through the removal of points of congestion.

The above list of benefits is not intended to be exhaustive and a particular policy, plan, project or development may have or recognise other benefits.

7.   Managing the environmental effects of transmission

POLICY 2

In achieving the purpose of the Act, decision-makers must recognise and provide for the effective operation, maintenance, upgrading and development of the electricity transmission network.

POLICY 3

When considering measures to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse environmental effects of transmission activities, decision-makers must consider the constraints imposed on achieving those measures by the technical and operational requirements of the network.

POLICY 4

When considering the environmental effects of new transmission infrastructure or major upgrades of existing transmission infrastructure, decision-makers must have regard to the extent to which any adverse effects have been avoided, remedied or mitigated by the route, site and method selection.

POLICY 5

When considering the environmental effects of transmission activities associated with transmission assets, decision-makers must enable the reasonable operational, maintenance and minor upgrade requirements of established electricity transmission assets.