The Commerce Commission ("Commission"), pursuant to section 81 of the Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998
("the EIR Act"), exempts Vector Limited ("Vector") from compliance with section 46A(2) insofar as it requires, via section 25, compliance with Rules 7 to 10 of the Arms Length Rules of the EIR Act, in respect of the cross-involvements (as that term is defined in the EIR Act) outlined in its application that relate to the Te Rere Hau wind farm located north of Palmerston North, through Vector's investment in NZ Windfarms Limited (NZWL).
The exemption is subject to the following conditions:
(a) Vector must not be involved, either directly or indirectly, in the selling of electricity generated by the Te Rere Hau wind farm to any customer connected to Vector's electricity network. This does not preclude the selling of electricity either into the New Zealand Wholesale Electricity Market, or to
an electricity retailer for the purpose of supplying retail customers, whether those retail customers
are connected to Vector's electricity network or otherwise;
(b) Any generation asset to which this exemption relates must not be connected to electricity lines owned or operated by Vector except to the extent that is necessary in order to connect the generation asset to the national transmission network; and
(c) The exemption is specific to the cross-involvements created through Vector's involvement in NZWL, NZWL - TRH Limited and Te Rere Hau Joint Venture for the purposes of developing the Te Rere Hau wind farm. It does not extend to any other interest, or existing or future cross-involvement of Vector.
The exemption takes effect from the date of publication of this notice in the New Zealand Gazette.
The Commission may vary or revoke the exemption in accordance with section 81(5) of the EIR Act.