Fundamentals of the New Zealand Electricity Industry

About

This two day course will give attendees a comprehensive understanding of how the New Zealand electricity industry operates both from a technical and business perspective.  Learn how the New Zealand electricity market functions, the roles of key industry players and regulators, impacts of potential reform and legislative changes and much more.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Gain an understanding of electricity industry jargon and technical terms
  • Understand how the electricity industry operates including: Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Retail sectors
  • Understand key pieces of legislation and roles of regulators
  • Learn how the market operates
  • Get an outlook on future trends for the industry

Who Should Attend?
This course is a must attend course for anyone who is new to the electricity industry, or who have recently changed roles and looking for the added edge when working within the industry including:

  • New Employees
  • Technical Employees moving into Management Roles
  • Technical Staff who require an understanding of business issues in the industry
  • Regulatory staff who require an understanding of technical issues in the industry
  • Sales, Marketing staff in the industry
  • Consultants to the industry including PR staff, Lawyers, accountants who wish to become more active in the industry

Outline

Common Terms Demystified

  • Electricity, volts, amps, watts, kilowatts, kilowatt-hours, kVA
  • Direct current and alternating current
  • Basic electrical relationships (Ohms Law, Watts Law, power factor)
  • Circuits (functions and types)
  • Real power, apparent power, reactive power
  • Power factor
  • Calculation examples

 

History of Electricity in NZ

  • Electricity from 1888
  • Market pre 1987
  • The “BradfordReforms”
  • Proposed  reforms

 

New Zealand Industry Structure Explained:

 

Generators

  • The electrical system
  • Types and sources of generation
  • Advantages/disadvantages/costs
  • Station transformers and switchyards
  • Load forecasting
  • Hydro, Gas, Coal & Geothermal
  • Key Players:Meridian, Contact, Genesis, Mighty River, and TrustPower
  • Future sources: PV, Wind, Wave
  • Virtual Asset Swap (VAS) Agreements

 

Transmission

  • Purpose and function
  • Substations and interconnections
  • Power flow and control
  • The interisland HVDC link
  • Key Players: Transpower
  • Security of Supply

 

Distribution

  • Distribution substations
  • Distribution circuits, types and voltages
  • Other distribution equipment (line fuses, voltage regulators, reclosers, capacitor banks)
  • Components (service transformer, service drop, meter loop, meter, main disconnect, service/breaker panel, branch circuits)
  • Key Players: Lines Companies

 

Retail

  • Key Players: Retail Companies
  • Users: Industrial, Commercial and Residential
  • Electricity Demand
  • Consumers
  • EECA

 

Electricity markets

  • Electricity Market Design
  • Wholesale Spot Market
  • Retail Market – Pricing and Reconciliation
  • Hedge Markets & Contracts

 

The Regulators

  • Electricity Authority
  • Commerce Commission
  • Who Regulates What?

 

Electricity Regulation

  • Electricity Governance Regulations 2003
  • Electricity Governance Rules 2003 (Rules)
  • Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010
  • Electricity Industry (Enforcement Regulations 2010)
  • Electricity Act 1992
  • Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998
  • Electricity Amendment Act 2001
  • Commerce Act 1986
  • Resource Management Act 1991 + recent reviews & amendments

 

The Future of the Industry in New Zealand

  • Regulatory Issues
    • Climate Change
    • Regulatory programme
  • Technical Issues
    • Interoperability standards and protocols
    • Smart Grids
  • Market Issues


Facilitator

Phil Caffyn, Director, Utility Consultants

Phil Caffyn entered the energy & utilities sector as an engineering cadet in December 1984 with the then New Zealand Electricity Department at what is now the Transpower grid exit point in Invercargill, New Zealand.

After completing a Bachelor of Engineering degree and a Post-Graduate Diploma of Engineering at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (both majoring in electric power systems) Phil worked in several lines and generation utilities before establishing Utility Consultants. During this time Phil completed an extramural Diploma of Management and an MBA through Deakin University, Australia (majoring in strategy, finance and marketing) and graduated 2nd in a class of 192 including top New Zealand graduate.

In addition to working in the energy & utilities sectors, Phil has been involved in governance roles in other unrelated sectors such as health and education.

Phil Caffyn is also facilitating:

In-house Training

Do you have a number of staff who would benefit from this course? Find out more about running Fundamentals of the New Zealand Electricity Industry, in-house at your organisation or ask us about our team training discounts:

Contact Lone M Tapp (Director, Bright*Star Training) on 09 912 3610 or fill in the form below.

DatesLocationEarly bird price*Standard price 
22 - 23 MayAuckland$1895 + GST
(EB Date: 20 March)		$2095 + GSTRegister
8 - 9 MayWellington$1895 + GST
(EB Date: 20 March)		$2095 + GSTRegister
21 - 22 NovemberWellington$1895 + GST
(EB Date: 18 September)		$2095 + GSTRegister
6 - 7 NovemberWellington$1895 + GST
(EB Date: 18 September)		$2095 + GSTRegister

* Early bird price available when you register and pay before the dates listed.