Technical rules consist of the standards, procedures and planning criteria governing the construction and operation of an electricity network, and deal with all the matters listed in Appendix 6 of the
Electricity Networks Access Code (
Access Code ).
Formal Review of Technical Rules for the SWIN
The Access Code requires Western Power’s Technical Rules for the South West Interconnected Network ( SWIN ) to be reviewed approximately six months before its next access arrangement is due to commence, which is July 2009. On 1 October 2008, Western Power submitted revised Technical Rules and a Schedule of Proposed Changes to the Authority for assessment. The Authority has re-established a Technical Rules Committee to assist it with the assessment of Western Power’s revised Technical Rules which are anticipated to receive approval in April 2009.
Technical Rules Committee
At the time the Authority assessed Western Power’s first Technical Rules submitted with Western Power’s first access arrangement, a Technical Rules Committee was established to provide specialist knowledge and advice to assist the Authority in approving technical rules proposed by Western Power for the SWIN. This Committee has been re-established and more information on the roles and responsibilities of this Committee can be found in the Technical Rules Committee’s amended Terms of Reference . The original terms of reference for this Committee can be found in Technical Rules Committee Terms of Reference .
As required by the Access Code, membership of the Committee consists of:
- A Chair, representing the Coordinator of Energy;
- A representative of the service provider (Western Power);
- A representative from each other service provider interconnected with Western Power’s covered network;
- User representatives; and
- Observers (the Authority may appoint a representative to observe any aspect of the operation of the Committee or any other persons that the Authority considers appropriate).
Approved Technical Rules for the SWIN
Under the Access Code, Western Power was required to submit to the Authority, proposed technical rules for its ‘covered’ (regulated) SWIN at the same time it submitted its first proposed access arrangement .
The Authority approved and published Western Power’s technical rules on 26 April 2007, to become effective from 1 July 2007:
The following documents were issued by and/or submitted to the Authority as part of the approval process prescribed in the Access Code (these documents are now archived):
Amendments to Technical Rules
Proposals to amend Technical Rules may be submitted to the Authority for approval at any time, by the service provider (Western Power); the Chair of the Technical Rules Committee; or a service provider of an interconnected network.
Technical Rules for Non-covered Networks
A service provider of a ‘non-covered’ network that is required by the Access Code to have technical rules, must either give notice to the Authority that it wishes to adopt another service provider’s technical rules or submit its own proposed technical rules for approval by 25 October 2007.
On 26 October 2007, the Authority issued a notice granting service providers of non-covered networks an extension of three months, to 25 January 2008, to submit a notice indicating the adoption of Western Power’s Technical Rules or submit their own technical rules.
On 25 January 2008, the Authority issued a notice granting service providers of non-covered networks a further extension of 3 months, to 25 April 2008, to submit a notice indicating the adoption of Western Power’s Technical Rules or submit their own technical rules.
On 23 April 2008, the Authority issued a notice granting service providers of non-covered networks a further extension of 3 months, to 25 July 2008, to submit a notice indicating whether they propose to adopt Western Power’s Technical Rules or submit their own technical rules.
On 23 July 2008, the Authority issued a notice granting service providers of non-covered networks a further extension of 2 months, to 25 September 2008, to submit a notice indicating whether they propose to adopt Western Power’s Technical Rules or submit their own technical rules.
On 8 December 2008, the Authority published a notice and a list of exemptions granted by Western Power to its Technical Rules.
