Aidan, thank you for your email, below receipt of which is acknowledged. 

 

You requested ‘any recent (since 2000) proposals/costings/studies relating
to a grid upgrade in the Southland region, to allow more electricity to be
transmitted North from Manapouri’.  As currently framed, your request will
be very difficult to answer due to its wide scope, indeterminate timeframe
and the substantial collation required for what could be a large volume of
information.  We will be better able to respond to your request if you
clarify more exactly what information you require.  Please note; we are
keen to assist you with providing information which is of value to you.

 

As it stands, we think the broadness of your request would allow us to
refuse it (relying on section 18(f) of the Official Information Act –
requests requiring substantial collation or research).  We prefer not to
refuse your request.  Further, answering your request in its current form
would likely require more than the normal amount of time to provide a
response and, in view of the complexity and volume of work required, might
mean a charge is made for supplying it.  We are keen to avoid both these
possible outcomes.

 

Therefore, please let me know if you are willing to amend or clarify your
request so we can more helpfully, easily and promptly respond to it, and
if so, how you wish to amend it.  I am happy to discuss this directly with
you if that would help.

 

Best wishes

 

Governance and Administration Manager

Transpower New Zealand

Waikoukou

22 Boulcott Street

PO Box 1021

Wellington 6011

 

021 380 123

 

From: Aidan Thornton <[1][FOI #13529 email]>

Sent: Sunday, 16 August 2020 1:55 PM

To: Team Online <[2][Transpower New Zealand Limited request email]>

Subject: Official Information request - Southland Grid Upgrade Project
proposal

 

Cyber Security Warning – External E-Mail CAUTION: Please ensure you take
EXTRA CARE when opening any links or attachments.

 

Dear Transpower New Zealand Limited,

 

Please provide any recent (since 2000) proposals/costings/studies relating
to a grid upgrade in the Southland region, to allow more electricity to be
transmitted North from Manapouri.

 

I believe a proposal was completed around 2013 on this.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Aidan Thornton

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #13529 email]
2. mailto:[Transpower New Zealand Limited request email]

Thank you, Aidan. I will speak with our development people and see if there is any report/study which fits your description and be in touch as soon as I can.

Best wishes

Dan Twigg
Governance and Administration Manager
Transpower New Zealand
Waikoukou
22 Boulcott Street
PO Box 1021
Wellington 6011

021 380 123

show quoted sections

Aidan, we think what you are probably after isn’t a study from 2013 - we
didn't undertake any relevant studies that year - but the 2010 Lower South
Island Renewables application which Transpower made to the Electricity
Commission in 2010.  This proposal, approved by the Electricity Commission
the same year (after public consultation), has resulted in several
subsequent work programmes.  The relevant materials are available online
at the following site:
[1]https://www.ea.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-...

 

It may also be relevant to your inquiry to look at our Clutha Upper
Waitaki Lines Project website.  This project is currently underway and is
one of the work programmes approved by the Commission in the 2010 Lower
South Island Renewables proposal.  Our website is at:
 [2]https://www.transpower.co.nz/clutha-uppe...

 

In 2013 NZAS negotiated an $30m incentive payment with the government and
Transpower undertook some public consultation (see
[3]https://www.transpower.co.nz/clutha-uppe...). 
This may be of passing relevance to your inquiry. 

 

For other, broader available information, in 2019 we obtained approval
from the Electricity Commission for the Lower South Island Reliability GUP
([4]https://www.ea.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-...). 
The driver for this work was related to reliability in the lower South
Island and not so much power transfer north but it did relate to the lower
South Island region.  Other, information available is found in our
Transmission Planning Reports
([5]https://www.transpower.co.nz/resources/t...). 
These look at a range of grid conditions but not specifically at Tiwai’s
closure.

 

Can you please confirm this material, available from the websites noted
now satisfies your Official Information Act request.

 

Dan Twigg

Governance and Administration Manager

Transpower New Zealand

Waikoukou

22 Boulcott Street

PO Box 1021

Wellington 6011

 

021 380 123

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.ea.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-...
2. https://www.transpower.co.nz/clutha-uppe...
3. https://www.transpower.co.nz/clutha-uppe...
4. https://www.ea.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-...
5. https://www.transpower.co.nz/resources/t...