Pursuant to section 57I of the Commerce Act 1986, the Commerce Commission (“Commission”) has published its intention to make a declaration of control in respect
of electricity distribution services supplied by Unison Networks Limited (Unison) and has invited interested persons to give their views on the matter.
The intention to declare control was published in the Commerce Act (Intention to Declare Control: Unison Networks Limited) Notice 2005 as a Supplement to the
New Zealand Gazette, 9 September 2005, No. 156, page 3897 (“the intention notice”).
On the same day, the Commission also released a paper setting out the reasons for its intention to declare control, Intention to Declare Control, Unison Networks Limited, which is available on the Commission’s web site:
www.comcom.govt.nz
The intention notice specified the time and manner for interested persons to give their views on the Commission’s intention.
Interested persons were invited to provide written submissions by Friday, 21 October 2005, and a conference was originally planned for the week commencing Monday,
7 November 2005 (the written submissions have been posted on the Commission’s web site).
In order to accommodate the number of submissions received in response to the intention notice, the Commission has decided to extend the amount of time available to confer with interested persons.
Also, given the level of interest from interested persons in the regions supplied by Unison, the Commission has decided to hold some sessions of the conference in Napier, Rotorua and Taupo.
The Commission intends holding the conference in three stages:
? The first stage will be one-and-a-half days (17-18 November 2005) set aside for submitters from outside the Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua and Taupo regions. The venue for these sessions of the conference will be
the Commission’s Wellington Conference Room, at Ground Floor, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington. A detailed timetable of presenters will be posted shortly on the Commission’s web site.
? The second stage, also to be held in the Commission’s Wellington Conference Room, will be an additional
two days (5-6 December 2005) set aside for Unison, its experts and the Hawke’s Bay Power Consumers’ Trust, which acts on behalf of Unison’s consumer owners in the Hawke’s Bay.
? The final stage will involve three sessions at locations
in each of Rotorua, Taupo and Napier respectively. These regional sessions will be held on 14-15 December 2005, with dates and venues to be confirmed shortly
on the Commission’s web site.
As indicated in the intention notice, an opportunity for interested persons to make cross-submissions will be provided for following the end of the conference.
Any comments and questions regarding the time and
manner for interested persons to give their views on the Commission’s intention to declare control may be sent by email to: electricity@comcom.govt.nz; or by mail to Network Performance Group, Commerce Commission, P.O. Box 2351, Wellington; or by facsimile (04) 924 3700.