6 Dec 2016

Trustpower's challenge to Electricity Authority rejected

6:27 am on 6 December 2016

New Zealand's fifth-largest electricity generator and retailer has lost a court case it took against the Electricity Authority.

no caption

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Trustpower sought a judicial review of the way the Authority consulted the industry over proposed changes to the way the electricity industry's costs are allocated.

The changes, announced in May, concerned the way sectors of the electricity industry pay for the almost 12,000km of national grid.

A second issue concerned financial arrangements for local electricity wires in cities and regions.

Justice Cull ruled the Electricity Authority had consulted properly in this case.

She found a lack of evidence that the process had gone off the rails or that any flaws in the process were irretrievable, and said the court should not intervene.

The ruling comes ahead of a new policy statement on costs from the Authority.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs