Electricity rules compiled

By RICHARD BRADDELL

WELLINGTON - The electricity lines companies have compiled a package of voluntary rules for managing their relationship with customers and retailers.

The package, foreshadowed by Wel Energy at the Government's electricity inquiry in Wellington on Monday, was detailed by United Networks yesterday.

An electricity consumer charter setting minimum standards for contracts between companies and consumers would be drawn up and lines and retail companies would give committments on their performance obligations.

The package includes protocols to facilitate customer switching and requirements for open access to any retailer wanting to use a network.

Monitoring of service quality and performance would be undertaken through customer surveys and prices would be benchmarked against similar companies nationally and internationally.

The package recommends a backstop regulatory regime for poorly performing lines companies that would operate under the generic Commerce Act.

Some amendments would be required to the act.